DECEMBER 11, Acts 10:34-35

Years ago, some older Asians had the wrong perception that Christianity was a religion of the west. Particularly because the Gospel was brought to the East by Western missionaries, this idea was cemented. Is that kind of thinking right?

This is not true! The Gospel is for everyone regardless of race, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!

However, Jews in those days were brought up having prejudices or biased views towards the Gentiles (non-Jews) and could never imagine that Gentiles could be saved. God was going to change their wrong thinking. Acts chapter 10 reveals the sovereignty of God and how He had a plan to save Gentiles.

God in His infinite wisdom separately prepared two persons, Cornelius and Peter and the result was the miraculous conversion of Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a Gentile. He was described as devout, God-fearing, giving alms to the poor and always praying to God but did his deeds make him a Christian? No, works could not save him. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save and God was about to do it through the intervention of an angel, who spoke to him to look for Peter.

Whilst God was working on Cornelius, He separately revealed to Peter a vision: to show Peter that Jews should not discriminate against Gentiles, and that if Gentiles repent of their sins, they can also obtain salvation. God then brought these 2 men together: Peter preached Christ; Cornelius believed and salvation, hope and peace were his. Praise be to God! The Gospel had gone to Gentiles and this event was the key to opening the Gospel door to the whole world.

Dear child, because the believing Jews had dropped their prejudices against Gentiles and reached out to Gentiles all over the world, we have the gospel today. Isn’t God great? Hope you have understood the significance of the conversion of Cornelius by Peter. Hurray, Cornelius was saved! The gospel is for all.

Thought: Put aside prejudices. The Gospel is for all.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that the gospel is for all. Your grace is for all. Thank You for saving us by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.