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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 18, 2009 WELCOME |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, February 18, 2009 by Penny Risen
ACTS 15: 1-29
“When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole
church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done
through them. But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the
Pharisees stood up and insisted, ‘The Gentile converts must be circumcised and
required to follow the law of Moses.
“So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. At the meeting,
after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: ‘Brothers,
you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the
Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s
hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy
Spirit, just as He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for He
cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by
burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors
were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the
undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
“Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs
and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.”
When the knock came at the front, and many times at the back door, Papa’s six children were directed how to answer it politely and to ask anyone found there on the threshold into their home before calling him. Papa told his P.K.’s (preacher’s kids) to treat everyone calling with respect, no matter at what hour or what condition they were in. Don’t leave them on the stoop, Papa would say; show hospitality.
Papa’s small town church stood next door to the parsonage, and when folks were in need and church wasn’t open, they called at the pastor’s home. By her minister father’s example, my mother and her siblings learned hospitality. Countless hungry people found a seat at their long oak kitchen table, if they knocked at mealtime. Many more found rest on the spare bed on the parsonage summer porch, or a warm coat from the large cupboard of donated items from Papa’s parishioners. My aunts and uncles each could tell me, years later, their favorite stories of how empty hands were filled when people passed through the parsonage door.
“If a child asks for bread, would you hand them a snake?” Papa would say, paraphrasing from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount -- his reason for never turning someone from his home.
But in spite of this attitude of welcoming and grace, my grandfather’s church and synod still had many restrictions and exclusive practices, according to my mother. Growing up, she and her family could not attend dances or movies. Alcohol and smoking were forbidden. She could not date until she turned 18 and set off to board at a nursing school. Even joining Boy Scouts was forbidden for her brothers. She said she couldn’t see how these age-old restrictions really had anything to do with her faith, and in turn she was fairly liberal in what she allowed for her own growing sons and daughters.
In this passage in Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas are not satisfied with the old answers from the elders and Pharisees, who wished to restrict acceptance of Gentiles to their new community of believers. Paul refuses to leave these children standing at the threshold and deny them entry.
Peter and the apostles reaffirm hospitality to the Gentiles and all who are “saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” The Holy Spirit reaches beyond superficial restrictions and prejudices of old practices, Peter explains, and it sees what is in our hearts.
This key meeting between the Savior’s old guard of Peter and disciples, and the new emissaries in Paul and Barnabas opens the doors for Gentiles and so many more to grow the new religion. This welcome is bread for these hungry souls.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, even though people do not come to my door asking for bread or shelter, let me reach out in other ways to be welcoming and to satisfy hunger for Your Good News. Help me to overlook prejudice and selfishness to be generous with my love and good will. Thank you for emissaries like Paul whose words continue to lead and refresh believers. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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