Pause

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place.
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness.
Word of God speak.

Bart Millard and Pete Kipley

Listen

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

Acts 10:34-38

Think

God shows no partiality. God loves everyone, and sent Jesus for everyone. No matter the labels, or classes, or other separations we create, God shows no partiality. It isn’t cheap grace however; you have to fear God and do what is right. That’s the rub, isn’t it – doing what is right?

Yesterday we were thinking on the safe place that God is for us, and today’s scripture has us fearing God. What’s up with that? Well, it isn’t fear of punishment, like how people feared President Snow in The Hunger Games. No, the fear in today’s passage is a reverence or a respect for the greatness of God. We bow our heads to pray as a sign of this respect. God is to be worshipped, after all.

This passage ends “…for God was with him.” God anointed Jesus and he went about doing good and healing others because God was with him. If we fear the Lord and believe in the grace offered through Jesus, then God is with us. So ponder this: How can we do good and bring healing today?

David Burroughs

Pray

God who loves us, I bow before you today, to honor and respect and worship you. I want to follow the words and way of Jesus, doing good and bringing healing to others in your name. Help me to see the opportunities that come to me today, as I try to follow you. Amen.

Go

See, it is Jesus, Jesus has appeared;
Do not doubt at all for nothing you will fear.
Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing;
Tell it without ceasing: Death has lost its sting.

Yours is the glory, Resurrected One!
Endless is the victory you o'er death have won.

Edmond L. Budry