Showing No Partiality

Our country has been a melting pot from its inception. We can see diversity in all forms throughout our land.

Before Jesus coming, God's people had been monolithic, being confined to the Jews. They were a select group of people chosen by God from whom the Messiah was to come. With Jesus' coming and the sending of the Holy Spirit, a major shift took place in who would all be included as God's people.

This thought brings us to Acts 10, where we come to Caesarea. It is here that a Roman centurion by the name of Cornelius is converted to faith in Jesus thanks to the work of Peter.

We must understand that a radical shift had to occur in Peter's life for this to happen. He is in Joppa and has a vision of a sheet being lowered down from heaven with reptiles and birds. A voice tells Peter to eat, but he realizes that according to his Jewish upbringing, he cannot eat anything that is ritually impure. A voice tells him that God has made the food clean!

Next, messengers from Cornelius arrive and ask for Peter to come at once. When Peter reaches the home of Cornelius, he declares: "I tuly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34) Peter proclaims the message of salvation and they come to faith and are baptized.

The Holy Spirit is empowering the Gentiles to come to faith. Do we understand and appreciate the shift that is occuring here? For one who was Jewish and for the person who was a Gentile? The word of God was expanding beyond Jerusalem and extending beyond those who were Jewish. Luke is giving us detailed information about the growth of the church.

Do you appreciate that the word of God has been extended to you? How do you relate to those of a different culture when it comes to talking about religious matters?