Anyone! 

God on Monday
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Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right‘ (Acts 10:34-35).

Reflection

Who will you see, email, or speak to this week? They are likely to include those you work with, those you serve, and those who serve you. As you picture their faces, names, or voices, ask yourself this question: do I see this person as someone who might one day follow Jesus?

Let us turn to our passage. Poor old Peter. The last couple of years had been total madness: messiah-meeting, mistake-making, miracle-marveling, mortifying-mourning madness! He had had to wrap his head around a resurrection, the arrival of the Spirit, and the nature of God’s kingdom. Then came that pigs in blanket vision (Acts 10:9-17). And now he was being forced to get cosy with gentiles! 

Growing up in occupied Israel, Peter would have absorbed many of the thoughts and feelings of his family, neighbours, and religious leaders. Jews are good, gentiles are bad. Jews are in, gentiles are out. The line between good guys and bad guys could be drawn with pantomime clarity. 
It had taken angels and visions to get him to this point of seeing things differently. 

Now here he is, in the house of a Roman. To a room packed full of gentiles, he hears himself say these words: ‘God does not show favouritism but accepts people from every nation’. 

So, who gets included in God’s kingdom? Jew, or gentile? It does not matter. Religious kind of person, or not? Irrelevant! Pledging allegiance to Jesus – that is what counts. And that could be anyone. Anyone! 

Most of the people you will connect with this week probably do not share your Christian faith. Perhaps it has never crossed your mind that one day they could. ‘They’re not that kind of person’. But there is no ‘that kind of person’. God invites all. And all sorts say ‘yes’ to that invitation. 

Before Peter showed up, God was already at work in Cornelius’s life. Maybe God is already up to stuff in the lives of your colleagues and customers. And perhaps you have a role to play in their journey of faith.

Response

How might the fact that God includes all sorts of people in his kingdom change how you think about, interact with, and pray for the people you will see this week?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for including me in your kingdom. Thank you for your loving invitation to everyone I will see this week. Help me to live, think, feel, and pray in accordance with your heart. Amen.

This Week's Author

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God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the next Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up here to receive each God on Monday instalment.  

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