From Every Nation 来自万国万民
Dexu Xia
God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35
Today's Scripture Acts 10: 30-35, 39-43
Today's Insights
In Acts 10, Peter’s response to God’s command contrasts with that of the prophet Jonah. God commanded both the wayward prophet and Peter to take His words to non-Jewish people. Jonah fled by way of Joppa so that he didn’t have to obey (Jonah 1:3), but Peter, while in Joppa, listened and headed straight to Cornelius (Acts 10:23-24). Jonah responded to God’s outpouring of compassion with anger (Jonah 4:1), but Peter allowed his heart and mind to change in light of God’s acceptance of the outsider (Acts 10:34, 44-48). Believers in Jesus are called to love everyone without favoritism, for we’re all made in the image of God
Today's Devotional
London is a cosmopolitan city, with people from many nations living side by side. This coming together of people from around the world can bring richness—including amazing food—but also challenges. For instance, I was saddened that friends from one European country felt they were the least respected in London because their country had been admitted to the European Union more recently. They felt overlooked, blamed for problems, and resented for the jobs they secured.
Since God doesn’t show favoritism, neither should we. He breaks down barriers between people. We see His Spirit at work in Peter’s vision while praying on the rooftop, and how Peter was called to minister to Cornelius, a God-fearing gentile. God helped Peter evaluate the Jewish regulations about not associating with gentiles. The apostle listened and went to Cornelius’ home to share the good news of Jesus. He said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).
Those who follow Jesus are called to love and serve all those who are made in the image of Christ. Part of that mission is to not to show favoritism for people from certain nations or with particular skin colors. May we learn to seek justice and to defend the oppressed as God guides us (Isaiah 1:17).
Reflect & Pray
Why do you think God breaks down barriers between people of different nations? How could you speak out for the oppressed? Dear God, please help me make a difference for You in my community. By amy Boucher Pye
“神不偏待人，凡敬畏他、行义的人，无论哪国人，他都悦纳。”（使徒行传 10:34-35 ）
今日经文：使徒行传 103章30-35节, 39-43 节
今日洞见：在使徒行传第10章中，彼得对神命令的回应与先知约拿截然不同。神命令这位悖逆的先知把祂的话传给非犹太人，和上帝也给彼得同样的命令。悖逆的先知约拿逃往约帕来违抗上帝的命令（约拿书 1:3），但彼得在约帕时，却顺服了神的旨意，直接前往哥尼流那里（使徒行传 10:23-24）。约拿对上帝向外邦人倾泻怜悯感到愤怒（约拿书 4:1），但彼得却因神接纳外邦人而赞美上帝（使徒行传 10:34, 44-48）。信奉耶稣的人蒙召要爱所有人，不分彼此，因为我们都是照着神的形象造的。
今日灵修 伦敦是一座国际化大都市，来自世界各地的人们生活在一起。来自世界各地的人的这种融合带来了丰富多彩的文化，包括美味的食物，但也带来了挑战。例如，我很难过地发现，来自某个欧洲国家的朋友们觉得他们在伦敦最不受尊重，因为他们的国家最近才加入欧盟。他们感到被忽视，被指责是问题的根源，并因为他们找到的工作而受到排斥。上帝既不偏待人，我们也不应该偏待人。上帝打破了人与人之间的隔阂，我们看到圣灵在彼得在屋顶上祷告时所见的异象中动工，以及彼得如何蒙召去服事敬畏上帝的哥尼流这位外邦人。上帝帮助彼得重新审视关于犹太人不与外邦人交往的规定。这位使徒听从了神的旨意，去了哥尼流的家，分享了耶稣的福音。他说：“我真看出，上帝不偏待人，原来在各国中，凡敬畏上帝行义的人，都为上帝悦纳”（使徒行传 10:34-35）。 跟随耶稣的人蒙召要爱和服事所有照着基督形象被造的人。这项使命的一部分，是不偏袒来自特定国家或拥有特定肤色的人。愿我们学习寻求正义，并照着上帝对我们的引导，捍卫受压迫的人（以赛亚书 1:17）。
反思与祷告 你认为上帝为什么要打破不同国家人民之间的隔阂？你如何才能为受压迫的人发声？
亲爱的上帝，求您帮助我在我的社区中为您做出贡献。
作者：Amy Boucher Pye