The Borderless God!

I find this whole course of event so amazing! The way that God is at work...moving and working in the hearts of two very different men (Peter and Cornelius), to bring them together for the purpose of the Gospel spreading to the gentile world. At this time and with these men, it would have to be God. To me, the thing that speaks most loudly from this account is the heart of God for all peoples of all nations!

The problem is, that many of us simply don't have God's heart! Many of us, like Peter, have certain borders or boundaries within our hearts that keep certain people out and keep other people in. If we are honest, there are some people that we have a natural affinity for, and others that we feel are "unclean". Those that we feel are less than. Not educated enough, not hard working enough, not holy enough, not cool enough, not civilized enough, not, not, not...
And, these prejudices can keep us from crossing lines and venturing into their world to tell them about the One who Created them, who loves them enough to send His Son to die for them, and who provides forgiveness of sins through His name! This is the problem with prejudice...and, this is why God needs to work in our hearts, just like He did in Peters!

We find in this account, that God shows up to Peter through a vision in which He shows him that nothing (no one) is unclean. That God accepts all peoples because Jesus has made all things clean through His blood that was shed on the Cross. So, since God shows no partiality, but accepts all peoples (from every nation) who fear Him and work righteousness, then so should we!

For Peter, a devout Jewish man from Galilee, this was a paradigm shift indeed! He was raised believing that Jews were clean and Gentiles (all non-Jews) were unclean. Plain and simple. God accepted the Jews, for they were set apart and holy...followers of the law of God! And, He disapproved of the Gentiles, for they were idol worshipers and transgressors...without the law of God! This prejudice was ingrained in Peter from a young age. So, if Peter were to be a true Ambassador for Christ, one who rightly represented the Kingdom of God...he would need to have a change of heart and mind! He would need to see that God accepted all peoples of all nations, regardless of religious background, cultural influence or political persuasion. And, this is exactly what Peter allowed God to do in him! Peter received the vision from God and immediately he went to the house of a gentile man whom prior to that vision, would have been OFF LIMITS to this "clean, holy, Jewish man"! Peter let God change his mind and his heart and became the humble servant of his Borderless God!

What about you and i? Do we have any prejudices that would keep us from certain peoples? Is there anyone who just isn't good enough for your time, your words, your love or your service? Are people of darker skin less clean than you? Are peoples of different religions unclean or too uncivilized? Is there anyone whom you have an aversion to because they are different than you?
We need to see that to God, nothing or no one is "unclean"! That God loves and accepts peoples of all nations, regardless of race, religion, politics or culture. And, like Peter, we need to repent of these prejudices, and allow God to send us to peoples of all nations (even in our own backyard) to proclaim the gospel of His Son!

Father, forgive me for allowing unseen borders of prejudice keep me from certain people. I am reminded this morning that you are impartial...respecter of no man, yet lover of ALL. Let me be willing to go wherever to whomever you are seeking! I am Your ambassador...so, help me to rightly represent You. May i have a borderless heart like You!

Created over 2 years ago