Beautiful Word Devotional #243

Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”

Acts 10:34

Right before Peter said these words, he had seen a vision of unclean foods displayed before him on a sheet. All his life he had lived with dietary laws (don’t eat this; do eat that) and racial prejudice (Gentiles are bad; don’t associate with them).

But in a single encounter with the Lord in a vision, Peter learned that God was making a change. The once bad food was now considered clean, and—more importantly—Gentiles were being welcomed as God’s people.

And this had been God’s plan all along. His hope was that the nation of Israel would act like a city on a hill, drawing all nations to him. Unfortunately, this seldom happened. Even the disciples asked Jesus if he was going to finally restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus’ closest followers didn’t realize that he had opened up the kingdom to the whole wide world, to the Gentiles. We who are not of Jewish blood are no longer unclean. Instead, we are welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus, thank you for inviting me into your kingdom. I am grateful to be included, amen.