Many years ago, I went on a trip to a remote area of the Philippines. It was not a tourist destination, and it was not easily accessible. I was clearly an outsider and a rare sight. With my fair skin and light hair, I stuck out like a sore thumb.
Even so, I was welcomed warmly at a local church service. It was my first time worshiping in such a foreign situation. The songs, speeches, and prayers were in a language I didn’t understand. The routines and rituals were unfamiliar to me. As I looked around, I remember realizing that although this worship was so different than what I was used to, the people in that congregation were worshiping the same Jesus. They knew Him the same way I knew Him. God doesn’t play favorites. His love and forgiveness are freely available to all. I also remember how this surprised me just a little and opened my heart and eyes to how vast God’s love really is.
The early Jewish Christians were surprised by this as well. When God told Peter to preach at a Gentile’s house, Peter was very skeptical. But then God surprised Peter by pouring His Holy Spirit into all the Gentiles in the house.
After Peter’s shock wore off, he said today’s verse. He wonders why he should have been surprised by God’s love. All the prophets spoke about it, after all. They all say God’s salvation is for all people. Everyone!
So why didn’t he believe it? Why didn’t I, deep down? Deep-seated bias.
I don’t have any special connection to God that isn’t available to anyone else. God’s love for me is personal and valuable and priceless. But His love for someone in a remote village of a small island in the Philippines is just as special and valuable and personal and priceless.
Jesus died for me, and He died for that person as well. He died for everyone.
Dear God,
Forgive me for my prejudices. Forgive me for thinking you love me more than you love someone very different from me. I know you love your entire creation, all people, equally. You love worship from your children in whatever language, location, or form it takes. And your forgiveness is available to us all in equal measure. Teach me to be as impartial in my love as you are.
CamDevo 