S) "17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?"
Acts 11:17 (NASB)
O) The proof is in the pudding. Peter had a hard time, at first, accepting that God had offered His gifts to the Gentiles. Having seen them be baptized with the Holy Spirit, as they were on the day of Pentacost, he had no choice but to believe that God had legitimately chosen them as well. After all, he had just seen the conversion of Saul; if he could be saved, how hard would it be for God to accept a Gentile? It's important to note that Peter didn't accept them based on their words alone, but on the evidence he immediately saw in their lives.
A) Thank God, also, that He does accept Gentiles, or else I'd be lost for sure! Now, I need to be sure that I am bearing fruit accordingly! I need to be sure that, if Peter saw me today, he would recognize that I am saved by the same grace, walking in the same Spirit, and operating in the same gifts that he saw among the apostles of the first century church. It's not for his acceptence, but because he was able to see that God was at work in them based on the evidence that was apparent to him. Likewise, the evidence that God is at work in me should be evident.
P) Father, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem all people, God! I had no chance, not even under the law. While I was yet a sinner and apart from Your people, You chose me and sent Your Son to die in my place, taking my death upon Himself, bearing my punishment. God, I want to honor that sacrifice. Holy Spirit, let the work of the Father be evident in my life. Lead me to the kind of personal growth and practical actions that glorify the name of the LORD, God Almighty. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) Thank God, also, that He does accept Gentiles, or else I'd be lost for sure! Now, I need to be sure that I am bearing fruit accordingly! I need to be sure that, if Peter saw me today, he would recognize that I am saved by the same grace, walking in the same Spirit, and operating in the same gifts that he saw among the apostles of the first century church. It's not for his acceptence, but because he was able to see that God was at work in them based on the evidence that was apparent to him. Likewise, the evidence that God is at work in me should be evident.
P) Father, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem all people, God! I had no chance, not even under the law. While I was yet a sinner and apart from Your people, You chose me and sent Your Son to die in my place, taking my death upon Himself, bearing my punishment. God, I want to honor that sacrifice. Holy Spirit, let the work of the Father be evident in my life. Lead me to the kind of personal growth and practical actions that glorify the name of the LORD, God Almighty. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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