In Acts 11:17,18, Peter says to the Jewish believers, "If then God gave the Gentiles the same gift that He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should hinder God?" And they answered, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Many times Jesus had told His disciples that He was sent to the Jews to bring the gift of redemption and salvation. Yet later, Peter was told by God not to make any distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. As Peter then, and as we today must recognize, God calls all people to Himself. When we look at one another in derision and think, "He is so far gone that there can be no hope for him," God simply says, "Don't hinder me!" What God makes clean, we must not call profane!
When Jesus calls us to discipleship, He rules no one out for you or me to share the Good News with, no matter how he or she might appear to our human eyes. That man, that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus. If we don't see them in this way, we are guilty of hindering God.
Lord Jesus, Be with your people that we might see people as you see them and as you saw each of us--in need of your saving grace. Keep us from ever hindering your work in the life of another human soul. Amen.
To you, my friends, I pray nothing I might ever write would hinder you from receiving the loving grace that Christ offers to each of us, and that you will each perceive His grace given already to you and me, your loving friend.
Jo INMN
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