How can Acts 10:35 guide our interactions with people from different backgrounds? The Verse in Focus “but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.” (Acts 10:35) Setting the Scene • Peter, a devout Jew, is summoned to the Gentile household of Cornelius. • God has already sent an angel to Cornelius and given Peter a vision of clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:9-16). • The Spirit’s lesson: the Gospel boundary lines drawn by human tradition must fall. God receives people “from every nation.” Key Truths from Acts 10:35 • God’s welcome is global, not tribal. • The essential qualifiers are “fear Him” and “do what is right,” not ethnicity, culture, or social status. • Salvation in Christ is offered universally—confirming Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 49:6; John 3:16; Revelation 7:9. Seeing People as God Does • Reject partiality: “For the LORD your God…shows no partiality” (Deuteronomy 10:17). • Honor the image of God in every person (Genesis 1:27). • Allow Scripture, not stereotypes, to form your opinions. Practical Guidance for Daily Life 1. Examine your heart – Ask: Do I instinctively favor people who look, talk, or vote like me? (cf. James 2:1-4). – Repent where prejudice hides. 2. Initiate genuine contact • Share a meal, start a conversation, welcome a neighbor of another background—mirroring Peter’s step into Cornelius’s house. • Remember Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” 3. Listen before you speak • Proverbs 18:13 warns against answering before hearing. • Listening affirms dignity and opens doors for the Gospel. 4. Speak the good news clearly • Peter eventually says, “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). • Don’t dilute the message; deliver it with humility and grace. 5. Celebrate unity in Christ • Ephesians 2:14: Jesus “has made both one.” • Seek fellowship that crosses cultural lines—joint worship, shared service projects, small groups. 6. Defend the marginalized • Proverbs 31:8-9 commands us to “defend the rights of the poor and needy.” • Refusing favoritism includes actively opposing injustice. Encouragement for Today God’s house has room for every tongue, tribe, and nation. When we welcome others as He welcomes us, we reflect His heart and validate the power of the Gospel. |
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