(P, C)br...
Illustration
(P, C)
This Scripture shares with us what was for Peter an important insight. It was not easy for one of apparent favored status to realize and admit that others may be included and, not only included, but given equal importance. The determining factor in this instance was not the national origin of Cornelius and his household or, for that matter, the national origin of Peter. It was, according to Peter's new insight, "... any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."
I remember with sadness and with joy an experience in my ministry when I proposed a certain family for membership in the church. They were a family of mother, father, and several children. I tried to involve the youth in the choir and in youth activities with only minimal success. They did not dress well; sometimes they smelled; and they were very poor. Anyone who took the trouble to visit in the home could easily observe the conditions that produced the odor and the inability to dress in the latest fashion. I was hurt and saddened at the difficulty some of our people had in being friendly to this family. The church hesitated to receive the parents and older children into membership until they remembered how Jesus ministered to the poor and needy and how, from Peter's experience, we are to learn to be more inclusive in our evangelism outreach. We could not increase their wealth by receiving them into our fellowship, but we did enrich their lives and ours by including them in that great family of God, the church.
- Fegan
This Scripture shares with us what was for Peter an important insight. It was not easy for one of apparent favored status to realize and admit that others may be included and, not only included, but given equal importance. The determining factor in this instance was not the national origin of Cornelius and his household or, for that matter, the national origin of Peter. It was, according to Peter's new insight, "... any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."
I remember with sadness and with joy an experience in my ministry when I proposed a certain family for membership in the church. They were a family of mother, father, and several children. I tried to involve the youth in the choir and in youth activities with only minimal success. They did not dress well; sometimes they smelled; and they were very poor. Anyone who took the trouble to visit in the home could easily observe the conditions that produced the odor and the inability to dress in the latest fashion. I was hurt and saddened at the difficulty some of our people had in being friendly to this family. The church hesitated to receive the parents and older children into membership until they remembered how Jesus ministered to the poor and needy and how, from Peter's experience, we are to learn to be more inclusive in our evangelism outreach. We could not increase their wealth by receiving them into our fellowship, but we did enrich their lives and ours by including them in that great family of God, the church.
- Fegan
