Devotional:
The early church was experiencing a powerful move of God—healings, conversions, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Yet, within this spiritual awakening, cultural and religious divisions still lingered. In Acts 11:1–3, Peter is criticized not for preaching the Gospel, but for eating with Gentiles. This reveals the deep-rooted tension between Jewish tradition and the radical inclusiveness of the Gospel.
Peter’s vision and subsequent encounter with Cornelius (Acts 10) marked a pivotal moment in church history. God made it unmistakably clear: His salvation was for all people. As Peter explained, “The Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15). This broke the illusion that one group had more access to God than another.
Today, we face modern equivalents of those walls—race, denomination, class, or politics. But the same Spirit that united Jews and Gentiles then is at work today. Christ prayed for unity among His followers (John 17:21) and Paul reminded us that “there is one body and one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4–6).
Unity doesn't mean uniformity; it means embracing diversity within the body while keeping Christ at the center. The challenge for us is to see others as God sees them—redeemed, valued, and included. When we break bread across boundaries, we reflect the Kingdom of God on earth.
Reflection Questions:
- Are there “uncircumcised” people in your life whom you subconsciously keep out of fellowship?
- What traditions or cultural beliefs might be limiting your embrace of unity in Christ?
- How can you become an agent of unity within your church or community?
Lord, forgive me for the times I have built walls instead of bridges. Help me to embrace all who belong to You and walk in the unity of the Spirit. Amen.
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