{"id":19733,"date":"2022-09-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-8th-september-2022"},"modified":"2022-09-08T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-8th-september-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-8th-september-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion 8th September 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 11: 1 – 18<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.  So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him,  saying, \u2018Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?\u2019  Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying,  \u2018I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.  I also heard a voice saying to me, \u201cGet up, Peter; kill and eat.\u201d  But I replied, \u201cBy no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.\u201d  But a second time the voice answered from heaven, \u201cWhat God has made clean, you must not call profane.\u201d This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.  These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man\u2019s house.  He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, \u201cSend to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;  he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.\u201d  And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning.  And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, \u201cJohn baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.\u201d  If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?\u2019  When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, \u2018Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We have reached the final part of Peter\u2019s encounter with Cornelius the centurion. Peter has gone to Jerusalem where he faces criticism for the events that took place in Joppa. He had ordered the baptism of the members of Cornelius\u2019 household, but that is not the reason for the criticism, it is more to do with Peter eating with uncircumcised people. His critics want to know why he did this. <\/span>
Peter recounts the story that we have already read in the previous chapter. The whole incident is clearly something that is important to Luke, and that is partly why the story is retold, and the incident will be referred to again later (Acts 15:6-11). There is more to it than simply the whim of the storyteller to repeat this dramatic tale. Peter\u2019s actions showed the acceptance of uncircumcised Cornelius and now the story is told again so that as Peter defends himself, we may know that he and his actions are accepted. <\/span>
We learn from Peter that the chief actor is not Peter, himself, neither is it Cornelius, rather it is the Holy Spirit who directs all that happened, and who provides for a scene that has echoes of the Pentecost story in Acts 2. <\/span>
Peter\u2019s critics are silenced and God is praised for giving \u2018even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life\u2019. <\/span>
Peter is seemingly accepted by the Jerusalem church, and the precedence of the inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles is accepted, <\/span>
At first glance we may see these chapters as an account of Cornelius\u2019 conversion, we may see that it is also about Peter\u2019s conversion, ultimately it is about the Church being changed. The inclusion of Gentiles, like Cornelius into the Christian community, means that the community becomes a different kind of community. <\/span>
We read in this story about acceptance, inclusion and willingness to change when the Spirit leads. <\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

O God,<\/span>
May we be ready for change,<\/span>
As we follow the Spirit into the future.<\/span>
May we be accepting and including,<\/span>
Ready to receive all,<\/span>
Irrespective of race, gender or sexuality.<\/span>
In Christ\u2019s name we pray.<\/span>
Amen<\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 11: 1 – 18 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.  So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him,  saying, \u2018Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?\u2019  Then Peter began to explain … <\/p>\n

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