And in Conclusion…

S - "Peter then said: Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. God is pleased with everyone who responds to him and does right, no matter what nation they come from. This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them. … Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to be witnesses. God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." Acts 10 TS

O - It took a very direct intervention from heaven for Peter to come to the conclusion that all of earth's religions, ethnic cultures and social cliques DO NOT want people to accept. The conclusion? Certainty that God treats ALL people the same - no favorites.   He treats them all alike … no matter where they come from.  This is how Jesus lived and taught; how and why he died and was raised from the dead.  He is heaven's good news for all people everywhere.  Not just for Christian people or politically correct people or any of the other categories created by  people to judge, reject and/or even hate others. Jesus is the living proof of this beautiful and unflinching reality: "God treats all people alike."

A - In my life experience, the religion, politics, cultural segments and ethnic alliances around me were willing to accept the idea of “equal treatment by God for all people” as long as the people joined their group and accepted their ideologies. This not the conclusion heaven sent by Jesus nor the one Peter received and embraced. Membership in a subgroup is not required for acceptance or equal treatment. A person may be a part of a group or join one if they wish but at some point, will have to choose between approval from the group or approval from heaven. Perhaps this sheds some context on the words of Jesus in Luke 14: “You cannot be my follower, unless you hate your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot follow me unless you hate your own life.” I am gratefully choosing Jesus and his conclusions.

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for coming to earth to clarify the person and purposes of God. I admit and accept your conclusion to accept me, and all others, regardless of where we come from. You were amazing in the first century and are just as amazing today. Thank you for loving us and for refusing to change your mind.

I love you back and will follow,

Steve