Father, the last couple of days I have felt a lift in my spirit, and I am going to attribute it to You! I don’t know what else would have caused it, for things have been going along as usual. Thank You, Father…for You!
Acts 10:34-48 (<<click here to read the passage)
A friend of mine posted a statement on Facebook today that reminded me of something I have shared with my congregations on multiple occasions. As the body of Christ, we should welcome with open arms anyone – let me repeat that – anyone who steps through our doors. And if we have any objections, we are the ones who need to go to the Lord in prayer!
Let me stop here for just a moment… I started to type some examples, but I hesitate to even put down some of the things that are in my head. I grew up in a pretty conservative denomination (though they are much less so now) and these are things that in many churches would have thrown up red flags.
Here’s a quick list of attributes that for sure in the past and maybe even yet today in some places that some (but by no means all) in the church would bristle at welcoming them into the fellowship of believers. Those with tattoos, piercings, drug/alcohol addictions, and differing views on sexuality, to name just a few. In my youth, divorcees weren’t allowed to teach Sunday School classes or hold positions of leadership.
I want to personally make it very clear that I vehemently oppose these limitations that certain factions of the body would hold at arm’s length instead of with open arms.
Most assuredly sin is in direct opposition to God and His will for our lives. But I don’t know of a single example of Jesus rejecting any sinner. He would minister to them, touching their lives to the very core, and get them going in the right direction.
One sentence in today’s passage got me going. Verse 45 reads,

All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. AMP

What caught my eye was “…the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (emphasis mine)
“Wow! Go figure…God even loves them!” “Who would’ve guessed?!”
And the list goes on – God loves and accepts all who will repent! And His free gift of salvation is accessible regardless of race, religion, or creed! God loves us…every single one of us!
Lord Jesus, may we strive to be like You – loving and accepting the least of these as we guide them into Your arms. And as the old Gospel song goes,

“I catch ’em, God cleans ’em
I bait the hook with the love of the Kingdom
I’ve been called to be a fisher of men”

Mar 5th, 2022, Mon, 5:23 pm