TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
[God] spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:15
Read: Acts 10
Listen: Acts 10
TODAY’S MESSAGE
At the beginning of Acts, the crucified and resurrected Jesus launches his church with Jewish believers at the helm. Luke, the author of Acts, unfolds their journey of presenting new life in Christ to all people. By the end of Acts, God’s church has spread beyond Jerusalem to Gentiles living in the Mediterranean area.
Comparatively speaking, the geographic journey is the easy part. The cultural and ethnic tension is the hard part. The divide between Jews and Gentiles is intense and hostile. But God’s heart has always been to draw both Jews and Gentiles to himself (Genesis 22:15-18). He accomplished this through Jesus, who “himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
This week we will lean into Peter’s 30-mile journey led by God to the home of a Gentile named Cornelius. Through their story, we will see how God wants to expand our hearts one step at a time to match his heart for all people.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
God is in the business of breaking down walls that divide people and become barriers to knowing him. As you meet with God, ask him to open your eyes to the first step he wants you to take in your “30-mile journey.” Ask him to expand your heart to become like his for the salvation all people.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
