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SCRIPTURE

Acts 10:1-34 (NRSV)

Peter and Cornelius

In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.

About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean." The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.

Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them." So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?" They answered, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. On Peter's arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am only a mortal." And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; and he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?"

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say."

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality…

DEVOTIONAL

I love today’s scripture reading because it affirms my commitment to bring GOOD NEWS anywhere that I am sent by God!

Too often pious church folks try to regulate who is “worthy” to receive the Gospel message. We sit inside the four walls of our churches and we wait for non-Christian people to come to us!

All of our work and our entire ministry take place on Wednesday or Sunday inside of the church or educational building; we never interface with our neighborhoods or the people in them who so desperately need Jesus!

Have mercy on us, Lord! For your Holy Word explicitly tells us to “go ye therefore unto all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).” Your Holy Word explains that there is “neither slave nor free, male nor female, Jew nor Gentile for we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).” Your Holy Word says, “For God so loved the world that God gave… (John 3:16)”

My goodness! All three of the above scriptures make it clear that there is no one outside of the pale of your love! (Hallelujah!)

Since this is true, when we receive a summons to bring GOOD NEWS to any people, we must go! If God calls us to sit in the bar and bear witness to The Truth, we must go! If God calls us to go stand on the street corners with the prostitutes, we must go! If God calls us to do outreach to folks addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, or pornography, we must gladly go!

Now, I think the primary problem Christians have with ministering to the “outcasts” of society, is that we don’t want to be labeled “guilty by association.” In today’s scripture Peter even says, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile…”

Wow! It was unlawful for Peter to even associate with Cornelius and his family, although Cornelius was known and respected far and wide for being a Godly man, dedicated to prayer and alms giving!

If it was unlawful to go to a man such as this, how much more “unlawful” might it seem to others if we go into the bars, strip clubs, and street corners?

But, let me tell you this! Jesus was all about radical ministry. He talked to, associated with, and even touched absolutely everyone that society labeled “unclean and unfit” for association.

For example, scripture teaches us that Jesus interacted with: women, children, tax collectors, demon possessed, lepers, and even a Samaritan! Jesus purposefully broke down the barriers of race, class, gender, and politics making it his mission to bring the Love of God to any—and everyone—that would listen and receive it!

Since we are followers of Christ, we must follow His example! I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, I am always terribly afraid when I visit a church and everyone looks the same. I worry when all of the people assembled share the same race, ethnicity, class, and politics. I am concerned when everyone looks clean, smells rosy, and is in their right minds. I am shocked when everyone seems to have arrived in an automobile, in clean clothes, with full bellies.

It makes me ask the fundamental questions of evangelism which are: “Where are the sick that are in need of a physician? Where are the least of these, whom Jesus identifies with and serves? Where are those who do not already know Him?”

My friends! The Church has become too insular! And shame on us!

We lack creative ministries which will reach the lost in Jesus Name! We are too self-centered, worried more about how to pay the bills, than how to help people enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ that will transform their very lives!

Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand!

Today’s GOOD NEWS is that it is never too late to do the right thing! Peter had spent his entire life avoiding the “dirty unclean Gentiles.” Yet, when God called him to step outside of his comfort zone and bring the GOOD NEWS to Cornelius and his family, Peter did so with an obedient heart!

As a result of this GOOD NEWS message, the Gentiles were reached for Christ, and we are now over two billion strong in 2009 and all over the earth!

One obedient person can make a world of difference!

Friends, let’s stop sneering down our noses at people who are doing “unconventional ministry” and let us find ways to support their work in Jesus Name! Let’s throw the doors of our churches wide open and declare—like we really mean it—ALL ARE WELCOME HERE!

Will you share GOOD NEWS with someone labeled “unclean” this week?

Holy God, I am so sorry that I have allowed my fear and prejudice to keep me from sharing GOOD NEWS with all of your children. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I will go where you send me, to whomever you send me, with a glad and joyful heart! Help to boldly proclaim that “Jesus saves, and He saves to the utmost!” I love you and I want to share Your Love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

All Are Welcome - Marty Haugen

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to the people who have recently put all of their faith in Jesus! We are so excited about your new-found faith in Jesus! You are in our thoughts and prayers!

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com