No Criticism

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

NO CRITICISM

Acts 11:1-3

11:1 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."

These are believers, people who say they love the Lord, which we think they would want to be like Jesus, or live according to his teachings, but they were critical of Peter because he went into a Gentile's house and ate with them. That would mean that Peter and the men with him ate Gentile food. Why was their first response criticizing Peter? This is a truth we should come to grips with, for it might be too easy to criticize others whom we think are not living as we think they should. We even find believers criticizing other believers, which, in some sense, is being judgmental. Of course, it is easy to criticize those who worship in different ways or with a slightly different theological position than we do. Pentecostals criticize Baptists and vice versa. Some evangelicals are critical of Catholics and their seemingly obsession with their Pope. Even within a single denomination and within a local church, it becomes too easy to be critical of one another if we are not careful to pay attention to the teachings of Jesus. The circumcised wanted nothing to do with the uncircumcised considering them to be unclean. Are we not all sinners saved by grace? Are we all created or formed in the image of God? Jesus taught that we should love the Lord our God with all our being and love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet the believers in Jerusalem failed to follow Jesus when they first heard that Peter had gone to the Gentiles. They will accept it, as we will see later, after Peter explains the Lord's move in his life and in Cornelius's. But it is this first response that bothers us. We cannot afford those quick judgments about others, as we should be quick to love them, even if they are different from us, or do things differently than we do. We are also not supposed to just love believers, but also those who do not believe. The Jewish believers failed to understand that God loves all his creation, even the uncircumcised Gentiles. We cannot make the same mistake. We know the teachings of Jesus; in fact, some take pride in knowing their Bible so well, which means we take every opportunity to show the love of Jesus to everyone. We must rid ourselves of all criticism. 

The Outpouring

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE OUTPOURING

Acts 10:34-48

34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.   41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

NIV

Peter is with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and he explains the full gospel message, including the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and that Jesus showed himself as proof of being raised from the dead. Peter also made it clear, as we must know, that he was under the anointing of the Spirit, that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name. The truth that God does not show favoritism in salvation is absolute, as we know God's desire is for all people to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. God does not want anyone to perish. Still, He has given each person the freedom to choose to accept or reject Jesus. In essence, our choice is a matter of life and death. Of course, we have already chosen Jesus, and he has given us eternal life, which is life abundantly. Interestingly, the circumcised believers who came with Peter were astonished because the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and those in his house, just as he had on the Day of Pentecost to those waiting, as Jesus had told them to. Cornelius, being filled with the Spirit, began to speak in tongues. Here is one of those times when the evidence of having the Spirit poured out upon someone is tongues. We know this is controversial, with some suggesting this evidence of being baptized in the Spirit ended with the Apostles, but here we see a Gentile speaking in tongues. So we have to believe that the power of God is, and always will be, the power of God, and that the Holy Spirit has been and will always be poured out on all people who receive him. The question that remains before us is whether we decide to quench the power of the Holy Spirit and try to live as believers under our own power. How can we say that we are saved, that we believe in the name of Jesus, accepting him as our Lord and Savior, but refuse the power of the Spirit, not allowing him to manifest his gifts or fruit in our lives? Jesus told us that we can do nothing unless we are connected to him, and he is the one who sent the Spirit from the Father. How could we not accept the outpouring of the Spirit upon us? How could we hold back his power in our lives? Come, Holy Spirit, we need you! We need your power in our lives, pour out your power! 

Bowing Before Him

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BOWING BEFORE HIM

Acts 10:23-33

The next day, Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day, he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." 27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

NIV

There was certainly confirmation from God between Peter and Cornelius, as each received a visit so the two could meet. There is no question that God had a plan for Cornelius and made sure it would come to pass. That could be a great lesson or truth we can take to heart. We know the Lord has a plan for our lives. We may not get a visit from an angel, have a vision, or gaze upon a messenger of the Lord, but we do know that He has a plan for our lives, and it will come to pass. There is one condition for His plan to be fulfilled in our lives. Both Peter and Cornelius prayed, and when both heard from the Lord, they obeyed the message. Although the Lord has a plan for our lives, we must be in communion with Him in prayer. That may not mean that we come to Him and blabber on and on with fancy, or religious words, but that we sit with Him, kneel before him, bowing our hearts, open and listening. We are not told exactly what the prayers of Peter or Cornelius contained, but we believe they were bowing before Him. We are told Cornelius prayed regularly, yet this time he had a vision, and Peter fell into a trance, seeing a vision. The point being that we should always be ready to hear from the Lord, and when we are ready with an open heart and mind, we can be assured that the Lord will direct our paths to accomplish his plan or purpose for our lives. The other truth we should take note of is Cornelius's falling at Peter's feet. Although it may have been in reverence for Peter's response to the invitation, Peter made sure Cornelius knew that he was just a man, like him. That is to say, we should not revere men, but only the Lord. Sure, there may be some people with positions of authority, such as the President, but we do not fall at their feet. There may be some who bow low before the Catholic Pope; we cannot know if any fall at his feet. It is not that we should not respect their positions in life, or their office or station, but the point is, we should only fall face down in reverence to our Lord. We are all but men, or women, each the same, having sin as our companion, with some of us having God tossing our sin away, because we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Therefore, we bow only before Him. 

Made Clean

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

MADE CLEAN

Acts 10:9-16

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."  14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."  16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

NIV

There is more to this narrative regarding Peter and Cornelius, but within this exchange between Peter and God, we need to explore.  First, we notice that Peter was staying with Simon the tanner. Most likely, the main portion of the house was busy as they were preparing the meal. So Peter needed to get alone to pray and spend time with his risen and ascended Lord. We are told Peter fell into a trance, which is a curious word. The Greek word used in this context would mean the throwing of the mind out of its normal state, or the alienation of the mind. It is clear that Peter was not thinking normally or being alert; his mind was wandering, and that is when he saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down. Was that real, or a vision during this mind-wandering experience? We do not know if we have ever fallen into a trace, just staring out into nothing, thinking of nothing, our mind just void of anything, but it seems that was the condition Peter was in when he saw this sheet lowered from heaven. It is not about the fact that Peter kept the Jewish laws regarding food, although being a Jew, he would have kept to the rules about clean and unclean animals. The truth we need to focus on is what God told him. "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Immediately, we are confronted with the truth that we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; our sins have not only been forgiven but also thrown away. We have been declared holy and blameless in his sight. We have been declared pure by God, so we need to see ourselves as God sees us. Of course, we still sin, perhaps not in such a grievous way as we used to before we met Jesus, but sin is still sin, and it is against God. This could cause us to feel guilt or shame because we are not as perfect as we think we should be. That alone is a problem because we should not call ourselves unclean when God has declared us clean. We cannot even make cleanliness a standard we must strive to achieve, because we cannot make ourselves clean, no matter how much we try. Perfection will not be ours in this flesh, yet God has made us clean.

 

Be Still and Listen

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BE STILL AND LISTEN

Acts 10:1-8

10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

NIV

Interestingly, Cornelius was a devout Roman centurion who feared God, or was in awe of God, which the Greek word also carries the meaning of to revere God. Here again, we see a personal visit by an angel of God. It is defined as a vision; however, in Greek, it means something gazed at, a spectacle. It appears that Cornelius saw this angel of God who spoke directly to him and stared at the angel. What the angel said about Cornelius's good deeds gives some clue as to how God sees us. His prayers and gifts to the poor came up as a memorial offering before God. That is a specific good deed, rather than doing good things within the church or as a church. Cornelius gave gifts to the poor, those who had little, who were lacking, living in want. It seems today some believers are skeptical, maybe even a little afraid of the poor, and do not want direct contact with them. We wonder how we can give gifts to the poor. What would that look like? Some churches make occasional donations to food pantries so that those in need might have food, and, in some sense, that is a gift to the poor. However, this narrative speaks of one man, Cornelius, who gave gifts to the poor, which would mean either from his personal giving or perhaps through one of the men in his Regiment. Nevertheless, God had been watching over him and sent an angel to bring about an encounter with Peter. God had a plan for Cornelius, and he intervened directly to make sure that plan would be accomplished. Although giving to the poor could be a great lesson, we should focus more on the purpose God has for our lives. All throughout the Holy Scriptures, we see people being directly contacted by God with instructions for specific tasks, or their lives, where they are to be, what they should do, where they should go, or who they should speak to. Do we live as someone who has been contacted by God? Do we just live our lives while including some relationship with God? Do we live by the traditions we have put in place, even those religious ones, thinking we are being good Christians? What would happen if God actually intervened in our lives, telling us to do something completely out of the ordinary, out of the pattern we have established? Are we ready to move forward with his plan, even though we haven't done anything like this before? Could we do something outside our comfort zone? Cornelius, a Gentile, a Roman Officer, was told to seek out a Jewish man, and he did. Let us always be available to hear from the Lord. Let us listen more, rather than do all the talking in our times of prayer. Maybe, just maybe, God wants to say something to us, and we are too busy talking, too busy with our traditions, too busy with our lives, to hear him. Let us be still and listen, knowing He is God. 

Turn to Jesus

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

TURN TO JESUS

Acts 9:32-43

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34 "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

NIV

One miraculous healing was all it took for many to turn to the Lord. We also see an incredible change in Peter. He went from confessing that time in Caesarea Philippi, when he stated that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, to denying Jesus three times, to preaching such a powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost that thousands responded, believing in Jesus. Now, being full of the Spirit, he has no doubt telling this paralytic man that Jesus Christ healed him. Seeing this healing brought more people to faith in Jesus. The news of that healing in Lydda spread to a neighboring town of Joppa, where Tabitha died. The people must have believed that because Peter healed that man, he could also raise Tabitha from the dead. Well, Tabitha was raised from the dead by Peter first praying, then telling her to get up, and she did. That is the power of God at work, for only through the name of Jesus was Peter able to do such a miracle. We wonder if all that faith and miracles just stopped sometime after all the apostles left this world to go to be with Jesus. We know there could still be miracles; healings happen within the people of faith. That is the clue to everything: first, having faith; second, being full of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Can we have the same faith that Peter had? Of course, we can; we have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us who dwelt in Peter. True, Peter walked with Jesus in person and witnessed all the healings, miracles, and the raising of three people from the dead. Still, it was his faith in the name of Jesus, just as he and John had told the lame man to get up and walk when they were on their way to the temple, that the paralytic man was healed and Tabitha was raised from the dead. Both those miracles caused people to turn to Jesus. That is the whole purpose of miracles and healings. Sure, it would be great to see someone healed, so they could be whole, but the purpose would only serve the few who witnessed the healing unless they were so filled with faith that they could not contain the news and spread it all over their town, so people would turn to Jesus. That is the whole of the good news: that people turn to Jesus. 

Jesus Loves You

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

JESUS LOVES YOU

Acts 9:26-31

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

NIV

Was it any wonder the disciples were afraid of Saul, for he had the reputation of hating the people of the way, opposing Jesus as the Messiah? Now he was a believer in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. However, Barnabas took him to the apostles and testified to Saul's conversion experience, and Saul became a man who spoke boldly in the name of the Lord throughout Jerusalem. It seemed his message was opposed only by the Grecian Jews, those who lived in Greece, spoke Greek, and were in Jerusalem for the festival. We do wonder whether they lived abroad in Greece and, being exposed to Greek mythology, had their views of the Messiah a bit skewed, or whether they were not in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' triumphal entry, amid the hallelujahs of the people. If they did not see the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, it would have been difficult to believe, but to want to kill Saul because he debated them, opposing their way of thinking, seems contrary to the message of God. However, we do learn a valuable lesson from this narrative. We should not be afraid of those who can kill our bodies. Jesus was clear that what is whispered in our ears, we should proclaim from the roofs. That we should not be afraid of those who kill our bodies but cannot kill our souls. Rather, we should be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. This was the first time Saul's life was in danger because of his outspoken message about Jesus, but not the only or last time men wanted to kill him, and therefore his message. How outspoken are we? Do we even speak up when we are out and about in the world? Do we just live in our own little cocoon of safety within the community of faith? Do we even talk at all about Jesus other than at church, or do we mention Jesus, or talk about spiritual matters with each other, or do we chat more about the weather, sports, or perhaps our aches and pains, or some other mundane subject? We cannot imagine the early church being distracted from talking about Jesus to anyone who would listen, even to those who might oppose our message. Let us not be silenced by fear or embarrassment, but let us love to tell the story of Jesus and his love. It could be as simple as saying, "Jesus loves you."