Did Christ really die for the entire world or just people who look like you and me? Peter struggled with this concept:
Acts 10:1-3 “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.”
V5-6 “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”
V15 “And the voice spake unto him (Peter)...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
V17 “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,”
V23b-24 “Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.”
V28 “And he (Peter) said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
V34-35 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
V44-45 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
V46c-48a “Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
LESSON - It’s unfortunate how biases play such a pivotal role in our witnessing to the Lost. It is our nature to identify with people who are like us, but our command is to witness to EVERYONE!! Our witness should transcend all racial, socio-economic, and ethnicity barriers reaching out to ALL people regardless of their personalities OR level of attractiveness. Are you able to look beyond a person’s physical appearance to see the soul that lies within? If so, God may use you to reach MANY people who have become “off-limits” to others.
~Mike
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