April 18, 2024
Read Deuteronomy 2, Psalm 124-125, Acts 11
Have you ever been criticized for something you have done even when it was the right thing to do? In Acts 11 we find a story about some Christians who criticized Peter for doing what God called him to do in Acts 10. Think about this again. Peter had gone to the home of Cornelius a Gentile centurion shared the good news with them and many of his family and friends believed and were saved. “Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days” vv.46-47. In the next paragraph we find out that some of the Jewish believers became critical rather than rejoicing about the Gentiles who became believers. “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them’” vv. 2-3. These Jewish Christians had their minds on the wrong thing. It was not on the main thing, that many got saved, only that Peter had eaten with Gentiles. Peter explained himself and these Jews corrected their attitudes. They had much to learn, and it started from Peter.
A little later in the same chapter the church gets their chance to redeem themselves and they nail it! “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus” vv. 19-20. Now there mission endeavors to the Greek in Antioch. The message of the gospel was spreading more and more. This time, instead of complaining the church decided to help out and be a part of the work of God. “News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” vv. 22-23. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help the new believers and to encourage them.
We have the same choice today. We can either complain or criticize things that we might not like but where God is moving, and people are being saved or we can choose to be a part of the movement and come along side others and help them by participating in the work too. It’s your choice.
What else do you see in these chapters? What words, verses, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below.
DId God Really Say... 