"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer
Friday, June 16, 2023 - Day 167 - (Today’s Bible readings: Jeremiah 16:1-21; Psalm 135; Acts 10:9-23)
WHAT IS CLEAN IS NOT IMPURE
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” .... 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. (Acts 10:9-15, 22-23 ESV)
“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Verse 15 NIV)
This special vision given Peter has two messages. One is that Peter was no longer subject to the Old Testament dietary laws. However, as we see in verses 22-23, there is also a far more important message. Cornelius, a non-Jew, is now a candidate for the Gospel. How monumental this was for him and for us! JESUS DIED FOR THE SINS OF ALL PEOPLE, Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles).
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (vv. 34-35 ESV)
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for offering salvation to all who repent and believe. Help me to remember this when You call on me to witness to someone who is different than me. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
No comments:
Post a Comment