Ever-widening witness

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 11:1-18 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

How many coincidences does it take for us to recognise God’s prompting? I am sure that, like me, many of you will have experienced the joy of God’s promptings in your lives. In today’s portion of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is recognising a key dimension of Jesus’ call to baptise and make disciples of all nations. He is drawn out of himself and led by gentle steps into the great Apostle we know and love.

We start, like Peter, being converted and transformed in ourselves, then we witness to our families and friends, then perhaps more widely in our own town and nation, and then we take that Gospel message to the ends of the earth. We could call it the ever-widening circle. But in all this we must remember to listen for God’s prompting and invitation. For at every step, the Lord is with us, and a crowd of strangers become our brothers and sisters.

Peter has accomplished a great work at God’s prompting, baptising the whole household of the Roman centurion Cornelius, and it has transformed his outlook on the difference between Jew and Gentile. He explains this to the circumcision party in an ordered fashion, so that they might know how he has been directed by the Holy Spirit. This prompting, like Jesus’ own commission, also restores the hope for Israel to be a kingdom of priests for all nations (Exodus 19:6).

So often we play catch-up with the promptings of God. In many ways this is a blessed assurance, because it means that God is going ahead of us. It is also true when we seek the Sacraments which our Lord longs to share with us. As Christians we are called to be lights in the world: to shine brightly with love of the Gospel truth, not dimly in fear of the world’s falsehoods. And when we recognise what the Lord has already laid before us, may we rejoice with exceeding joy and praise God for his goodness.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, incline our hearts to serve you this and every day for your glory and the building up of your kingdom, in Christ our Lord. Amen.