Acceptable

34 Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. 35 Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, 41 not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43, CEB)

Have you ever met a follower of God you did not agree with? If you haven’t you need to expand your bubble!

I have met a lot of people who follow God but do not believe the same things I do. I have lost friends because they thought I was not doing what God called me to do, when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was following God. How can this be?

Peter tells us here. “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. 35 Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to God.” If I am worshipping God and doing what I feel is acceptable to God at this point in time, then I am beloved by God. We should not judge another for not being where we are in faith, for we are all on a journey to deepen our lives and relationship with God. If you believe you receive forgiveness. And your belief can be different than mine and we still both believe in God.

You see we are all uniquely created by God and so we will not have the same faith.

So love as God loves you and make sure the world knows they are loved by God and let God work.

Love People. Love God.

Forbidden

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Company. 2 He and his whole household were pious, Gentile God-worshippers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. 3 One day at nearly three o’clock in the afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God in a vision. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Startled, he stared at the angel and replied, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said, “Your prayers and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to God. 5 Send messengers to Joppa at once and summon a certain Simon, the one known as Peter. 6 He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is near the seacoast.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants along with a pious soldier from his personal staff. 8 He explained everything to them, then sent them to Joppa. 9 At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. 11 He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. 12 Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13 A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” 14 Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” 16 This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven. 17 Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Just then, the messengers sent by Cornelius discovered the whereabouts of Simon’s house and arrived at the gate. 18 Calling out, they inquired whether the Simon known as Peter was a guest there. 19 While Peter was brooding over the vision, the Spirit interrupted him, “Look! Three people are looking for you. 20 Go downstairs. Don’t ask questions; just go with them because I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went downstairs and told them, “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22 They replied, “We’ve come on behalf of Cornelius, a centurion and righteous man, a God-worshipper who is well-respected by all Jewish people. A holy angel directed him to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 Peter invited them into the house as his guests. The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. 24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” 27 As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. 29 For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.” 30 Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. 32 Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ 33 I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.” 34 Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. (Acts 10:1-34, CEB)

What is forbidden? Or what is unclean?

According to the Law, there are things we can not eat. And things we can not do.

But here Peter has a vision of a sheet with all the unclean animals and is told to eat. But he says nothing unclean has ever touched my lips. And the response is that what God has made is not unclean.

As I write this devotional Arkansas just passed and then over turned a veto of the governor on HB1570 which prohibits trans people under 18 from getting medical treatments to help their gender dysphoria. And North Carolina is starting the talks on Senate Bill 514 which will do the same there. These lawmakers are calling what God has made unclean. And everything that God has made is clean.

Maybe you think this is a stretch for this set of verses, but in Peter’s day, as Peter said, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders.” Greeks and Jews could not associate because of the Law. But Peter was told by God that this is not the way.

We need to love everyone even if we don’t agree with them or their lifestyle. We are called to love and share God’s love, not try to make everyone like us.

Love People. Love God.

Orphaned

18 “I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “Lord, why are you about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. 29 I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. 30 I won’t say much more to you because this world’s ruler is coming. He has nothing on me. 31 Rather, he comes so that the world will know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up. We’re leaving this place. (John 14:18-31, CEB)

Jesus is telling the disciples that they will soon be the only ones who can see him. Because the world isn’t ready to see his revelation. And he wanted them, and us, to know that even though the world would say he is not here, he is still here. God is always with us and we are never alone. Even when the world will leave us behind, God will always be with us.

And when the anxiety of the world boils up and seems to make the world around us black, God is always with us to give a peace that the world doesn’t understand.

I remember that I started doing these daily devotionals in early 2012. It was when I had resigned my call and was looking for the next call. Little did I know then that it would take me almost 2 years to find that next call. But I was focused and knew that God was with me. I wrote these devotionals for the world, but also to remind myself that God is always with us. even in what seems the darkest times, God will never leave us orphaned.

God is always with us. Love the world like God loves you.

Love People. Love God.

pure

17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts (James 3:17-18, CEB)

It is pure.

Is anything pure anymore?

It seems like everything has some kind of filler or preservative in it.

But wisdom from above is pure, and peaceful, fair and genuine. It is easy to spot this, because there is a lot of selfish motivation in things we do. When someone is peaceful, gentle, merciful, fair and genuine it shines through.

Let this be your life, that it is purely led by the motivation of Christ to be made known in the world.

That will change the world!

Love People. Love God.

Fruit

16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. 19 The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other. (Galatians 5:16-26, CEB)

The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, because they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that.

What is sexual immorality? In a society where men could have multiple wives and concubines? Is this obviously clear what is sexually immoral?

Doing whatever feels good? It feels good to work at the soup kitchen and to serve those who are being held down by circumstances outside of their control, so according to this I shouldn’t do that.

Losing your temper, not sure but I do not think that Jesus was calm when he flipped tables in the temple. He burned with a holy anger, but we can’t lose our temper because that is selfish.

Following after your own desires is not clear cut as this passage wants to make it, but if we can be fruity and live in the fruit of the spirit, which is love. Love all, and spread the love that God has given you.

some say there are 9 fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But I read this as the fruit of the spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are elements of love. If we love, we will be focused outside of ourselves and the things we do will be for others, not ourselves.

Love People. Love God

trimmed

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. (John 15:1-8, CEB)

Are you fruity?

Do you produce fruit?

Jesus is the vine and the father if the vineyard keeper. The keeper trims back and removes branches that do not produce fruit. And the branches that do produce fruit, are pruned so they produce more fruit. SO if you don’t produce you are removed, and if you produce you are cut back to produce more. You do not miss the cutting.

We must be connected to Jesus, but the Father will be trimming us to help us be more fruity in the world!

So go and love as God loves you and share your fruit with the world!

Love People. Love God.

Kingdom

30 He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? 31 Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; 32 but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32, CEB)

The smallest seed isn’t a mustard seed, yet this still makes sense, because the mustard seed is a very small seed and when planted mustard is invasive and takes over.

And that is how the kingdom of God comes in. Once it takes a place it doesn’t go away easily. It takes over the space it occupies and becomes the prominent feature there.

Let God’s kingdom over take your life and fill your space with God’s love.

Love People. Love God.

not for sale

9 Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” 11 He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. 12 After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished. 14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria. 15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon perceived that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 He said, “Give me this authority too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money! 21 You can have no part or share in God’s word because your heart isn’t right with God. 22 Therefore, change your heart and life! Turn from your wickedness! Plead with the Lord in the hope that your wicked intent can be forgiven, 23 for I see that your bitterness has poisoned you and evil has you in chains.” 24 Simon replied, “All of you, please, plead to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will happen to me!” 25 After the apostles had testified and proclaimed the Lord’s word, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages along the way. (Acts 8:9-25, CEB)

We can not buy the gift of God. Grace is not for sale.

No amount of money will gain you entrance into heaven.

Simon believed and was baptized, but then it appears he was over come with greed and offered money to get the spirit. Doesn’t work that way Simon.

We all need to know that God’s gifts come when God is ready for them to come. We can not rush the timeline no matter what we do or offer to pay.

God’s will will be done in this world in and through us often times in-spite of us.

God’s grace isn’t for sale but is freely available to all. Just ask.

Love People. Love God.

way they believe

At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. 3 Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison. 4 Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them. 6 The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. 7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. 8 There was great rejoicing in that city. (Acts 8:1b-8, CEB)

Saul was wreaking havoc. Saul. The person who is also known as Paul, the greatest evangelist the church has seen, was arresting people for being followers of the way. For following Jesus and preaching the good news Paul would soon be preaching, he was dragging people out of their homes and hauling them off to jail for not believing the same way he did.

We are lucky in the United States to live in a place where it is free to follow whatever religion you choose, without worrying about going to jail or being killed for having that faith. But around the world, and even here, people are called out for their faith. Some places make part of your religion illegal. Just recently Sweden made it illegal for women to cover their heads, which is a necessary part of the Muslim faith. Now they didn’t outlaw all forms of head coverings but did say certain types of religious head coverings were not allowed. This is the same thing we see above.

Who are we to judge and persecute someone for the way they believe, or what they believe? We are to love and do as Philip did, share the good news of Christ and the love of God. And that love will change hearts and minds. We are not supposed to change people, we are supposed to love people.

Love People. Love God.

Britches

26 After singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions. 28 But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.” 30 But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing. (Mark 14:26-31, CEB)

I will never falter or deny you. Even if all the rest do, I never will.

How many of us have ever said this? We get on fire for following Jesus and we say we will never fall away. We forget that the 12 disciples walked with Jesus for three years and saw the miracles, witnessed first hand what happened, and everyone of them faltered. How do we think we will do any better?

We are made to go after self preservation. But that doesn’t mean we can not follow Christ when we lean in Christ for power and strength and the fortitude to make it through.

Even Peter was restored. That is why Peter is called out by the angel at the tomb, “Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:7) Not because Peter isn’t a disciple, but because in spite of what Peter did, Jesus still loves him and wants to work through him.

So don’t be to big for your britches and follow where Christ is leading.

Love People. Love God.