Who Was I that I Could Stand in God’s Way?

God wants all to be saved. We also know that not everyone will be saved, but that is God’s desire. And it should be ours.

We say that we believe that, that we want that, that that is our heart’s desire; but so many times our actions speak louder than our words. We arrogantly place ourselves above others and even flaunt in the way that we talk to others on how we or our Faith is superior. Instead of humbly lifting up the only One who is superior – God. And we are supposed to be winsome for others, not arrogant. We’re supposed to acknowledge that we have been saved by grace and not by anything that we do or any special privileged position we hold as disciples of Jesus.

The Jews got into this conundrum as well. They knew from the Old Testament that Israel was God’s chosen people. A people who were supposed to be holy and set apart. A nation that was to be a blessing for other nations. A light to the gentiles. But they forgot that. Instead of wanting to be that light and take God to others, they erected barriers to keep others out. To hold up with God rather than to share Him.

This was true for some of the early believers as well. They also didn’t really take seriously the call to make disciples of all nations, to share Jesus with others, to be winsome; because they didn’t really want or perhaps believe that God wanted gentiles too.

So when we see in our text from Acts that many in the Church of the “circumcised party” were criticizing Peter for the way he addressed gentiles – the way he stooped their level, they criticized him. But Peter saw – reluctantly – that the Gospel really was for the gentiles too. And he saw this because he saw the gentiles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, just like he and the other believers did. And he made the correct connection that if God chose gentiles and gave His gifts to them standing in the way is not just being protectionist to the faith, it’s opposing God and that very faith. That’s not a reason for anyone who is a believer to be cocky, but rather to – in humanity, knowing that we are recipients by grace – to freely and joyously share that grace of Jesus with others. With everyone. Hoping, praying that they will become believers as well. That they will be saved like we have been. That they would become a part of the fold of God.

“Lord, send Your Holy Spirit upon everyone that we meet and fill us with that same Spirit, so that we may be winsome for You, sharing the saving gospel of Jesus in all that we think, say, and do, so that You are glorified and Your grace is shared.”

Scriptures

• Acts 11:1-18
• Psalm 148