Act 11 - A Blog in 28 Acts

In Acts 10, Peter gets out of his box, hangs out with some people who could seriously tarnish his reputation, and discovers that God has just changed all the rules. Acts 11 is the story of how Peter responds when his friends call him to task for rubbing shoulders with the wrong crowd (the uncircumcised, for heaven's sake!), eating forbidden foods, and generally ruining their good reputation as upstanding Jews. Read all of Acts 11 Here.

Have you ever been there? Ever done something that has your friends shaking their heads and questioning your judgment? I have! I rely on my friends to pull in the reins and ask really hard questions when they think I'm headed in the wrong direction. I also rely on my friends to understand and support me when it turns out I have solid reasons for whatever raised their eyebrows. That's what friends are for, and those are the kinds of friends Peter had.

Peter knows he has some convincing to do as he starts to tell his story. He's familiar with convincing. His story is all about how God had to convince him.

As his story unfolds, he relates his experience of the Holy Spirit doing a new thing - coming to the Gentiles, not just the Jews. God has revealed to Peter that he is a God for all nations, not just for the Jews. As Peter shares this revelation, he knows that it's meant for his friends too. They all need to live in the light of this new knowledge. The whole world is relying on them to be transformed by what the Holy Spirit has revealed to Peter. The whole world is relying on them to go out and convince their friends...and for those friends to convince their friends...until everyone is convinced. And Peter asks a critical question, "How could I object to God?" His friends have to ask themselves that same question.

It's a good question, "How could I object to God?" Yesterday, Pastor Greg issued an invitation:

"Think and pray about how God might be working on you today to get out of your box and see something in your life in a brand new way!"

Who is relying on you step outside your box, just like all the nations were relying on Peter to step outside his? Figure out how to get outside that box. Who does God need you to bring along with you as you get outside your box, just as he needed Peter to bring his friends? Figure out how to bring that person with you.

How can you object to God?

Kim

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.