Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all!” – Acts 10:34-36

Sometimes I’ll be sitting at my desk, reading the Bible, or – as some biblical writers put it – searching the scriptures, and a passage seems to just stand up and reach out of the page.

• “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another.”
• “This is the message of peace… the good news through Jesus… He is Lord of all!”

Not a message of confrontation. Not a message of “we’re right and you’re wrong.” Not a message of “we’re God’s favorite Christians.” Not a message of finely tuned doctrine and culturally nuanced theology. But a message of peace; a message of Good news through Jesus; the message that God is Lord of all.

• But what if this other group doesn’t line up with our interpretation of scripture? “Peace; good news; He is Lord of all!”
• And what if they baptize people all wrong? “Peace; good news; He is Lord of all.”
• But maybe they’re in a sect, or believe stuff I don’t get? “Peace; good news; He is Lord of all!”
• Okay, then, but what if they’re not like us, or they’re gay, or they burn incense, or they’re socialists, or they voted for the wrong person, or they have deviant lifestyles, or we don’t like how they do communion…? “Peace, good news; He is Lord of all!”

Here’s what God is poking at me with today. Sure, I want people to know about the good news that Jesus brings… but then – too often – I want it to be my slant on the message! But this is the good news, not that Jesus favors my comfort zone when it comes to religious expression, but that God is Lord of all! Jesus is an open invitation, Jesus is God’s great initiative of grace and mercy. Jesus doesn’t belong to my way of thinking; I belong to God because Jesus has opened the door.

 ^{This is the good news, not that Jesus favors my comfort zone when it comes to religious expression, but that God is Lord of all! Jesus is an open invitation, Jesus is God’s great initiative of grace and mercy. Jesus doesn’t belong to my way of thinking; I belong to God because Jesus has opened the door.}

Peter had to understand that, once the door was open (now the door is open) absolutely anyone may possibly walk on through. Our job is to extend the invitation. Jesus is the gate. Peace; good news; He is Lord of all!

Peace; good news; He is Lord of all! – DEREK

I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. – John 10:9-10