Acts 10:27-28
As Peter entered the house, he was still talking with Cornelius. Many people were there, and Peter said to them, “You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
At some point in our lives, we have probably all walked into a room and thought, “I don’t belong here.” Maybe you stumbled into the wrong meeting room during a conference – or the wrong classroom at school. Perhaps you entered a room where a club meeting or party was in session – and you were not a member. Or maybe you walked into a store or restaurant where others looked at you as if you were not “high-class” enough to be there.
Worse yet, maybe you entered a church and felt out of place. You weren’t familiar with the music, the rituals, where to sit, when to stand or kneel…and you just felt out of place – and maybe a little unwelcome. And no one seemed to do anything to change that.
Sadly…a lot of us were indoctrinated as young children with the idea that not all people are the same…for one reason or another. We all learn pretty early about “clubs” – who is “in” and who is “out”. And we learn to discriminate…sometimes artfully – and other times with what borders on downright cruelty. I’m sorry to say it, but often, this plays out most skillfully among people who claim to be Christians.
Hear Peter’s words to Cornelius and the others…”God has shown me that He doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit.” If God doesn’t feel this way…how on earth can we? The time has come for us to examine how we treat others – everything from our words and actions to our body language. Where have we discriminated? How have we acted with an air of superiority? Who have we disrespected and disparaged? What have we done…and how do we correct this?
Search your heart and see if there are any situations in which you have said and done things that made others feel uncomfortable…like they were on the outside looking in…and/or unloved and unwelcome. Then ask God to show you how to make necessary changes...to begin to operate like He does - with grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, love and care and acceptance for everyone - whether they are “in your league” or not.
God does not think anyone is "unclean or unfit"…so what makes us think that we should?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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