Hey guys, today's reading is taken from Acts chapter 10, verse 34. Then Peter replied, I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In Nigeria, traditionally when you could get invited to a wedding, it's not just you who's been invited. It's also a ticket to bring along your friends and family too.
Effectively, it's an open invite. Everyone's invited. This is probably how one of my friends ended up having more than 2,000 people at his wedding. Imagine that.
I'm sure that this might be similar in other cultures too, although I must say this trend does seem to be shifting, with a move towards greater exclusivity. Anyway, today's chapter, Acts chapter 10, is all about inclusivity. A Roman army officer, Cornelius, who's a kind and godly man, has a vision. He gets told by an angel to call Peter.
So Cornelius does this. He sends three of his men to travel to Joppa to bring Peter to him. Meanwhile, Peter is having a dream of his own. In the dream, God tells Peter, what I call clean, don't call unclean.
What I call clean, don't call unclean. Peter is unclear on what this means, but doesn't forget the words. The men arrive at Peter's house, spend the night, and Peter agrees to go back with them to Cornelius' in Caesarea in the morning. When Peter enters Cornelius' house, which by the way was against the law, as Jews couldn't hang with Gentiles like that, Cornelius pulls at Peter's feet and worships him.
I love how Peter responds, stand up, I'm a human being just like you. He's basically saying, stop, we're no different, there's nothing between us. I got an invite to be a Christian just like you. We're both VIPs.
Peter then went on to explain to him that God told him in a dream that he should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean, that the family of God was no longer an exclusive club, and that everyone's invited. Peter said, as in today's verse, that God shows no favoritism. So the Holy Spirit then fell upon all the Gentiles who were listening to the message, just as it had fallen on the Jews. And then the Gentiles started speaking in other tongues and praising God, just as the Jews had done.
And then the Gentiles were also baptized, again, just as the Jews were. Everyone was amazed. This chapter is great because it reveals the fundamental heart of God and his inclusivity. So today, whether you feel distant from God or another amongst you does, refresh yourself with God's love, that he gives unconditionally to all.
No one gets more than another and no one less. He doesn't show any favoritism. He loves you, just the same. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 it says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free.
There is no male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Regardless of any flaws or inadequacies you may feel at present, God can see you in the radiance of his glorious light. Pray with me. Lord, thank you for loving me without limits.
Thank you that you counted me worthy to be called your child. And thank you for not showing any favoriteism or prejudice, but loving us all as equals. In Jesus' name. Amen.