In The Way

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.  And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:15-17).

The conversion of the gentile Cornelius and his household recorded in Acts 10 caused some consternation in the Jerusalem church.  Some Jewish converts were concerned that Peter entered the home of a Gentile and shared a meal.  These Jewish Christians struggled with the idea of non-Jews being brought into the church on an equal basis.  They confronted the apostle and said: “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them” (Acts 11:3).

Acts 11:4-18 is devoted to Peter’s defense of his actions.  He carefully recounted the events associated with the encounter, making a point of emphasizing God’s leadership in the matter (vv. 9,12).  Most importantly, he highlights how God poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles just like He did to the Jews on Pentecost.  It was this action of God that was the focal point of Peter’s defense.  After that, he said “...who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17).

The phrase “...who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” got me to thinking: Could I be getting in the way of what God is doing?  Are my scruples or traditions somehow hindering what God is endeavoring to do?  I’m reminded of the words of King Nebuchadnezzar after he was reminded of Who was in charge: “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ (Daniel 4:35).  It is futile to stand in God’s way.  

 

God loves you!

Mike