Project 119: Acts 11:1-18

 |  Project 119  |  Mary Splawn

This week, each devotional will be a prayer that incorporates truths about God’s character and love that we see displayed in Scripture. This prayer is based on Acts 11:1-18.

Lord, As we read Your Word, we know that it reads us in return. We read today of a critical spirit that rose among the circumcised believers about Peter’s actions. We often stand in their fault-finding shoes, knowing it is so easy to be critical of others, especially in areas where we think we have it all together.

Holy Spirit, conform us to Christ and change our hearts so that they well up with compassion and grace. Instead of defaulting to criticism, teach us to do the harder task of seeing the good in others. Remind us that each person has been at least somewhat shaped by their circumstances and all humans carry heavy burdens which may not be visible in plain sight.

Help us to recall the principle taught by Jesus that one who has been forgiven much will love much (Luke 7:47). As we contemplate the great depth of our sin and the even greater depth of Your love which covers sin, give us overwhelming joy, gentleness toward others, and love towards You!

You have granted repentance to even us, and we praise You. Help us to extend the same grace to others, leaving unsaid things that are not kind and true and helpful for building others up.

Through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Acts 11:1-18 (ESV):

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”