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34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:34-43 NRSV)
A wonderful Wednesday be yours today, dear Friend! We come to Peter sharing what God has shared with him after his visit to the home of Cornelius, the righteous centurion who loved God and who invited Peter to come and dine with him. Peter learns what he shares in the above passage: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him." Quite a change from the Peter who at first was reluctant to knock on this Roman's door. But in his vision Peter understood that God was the God of all people and as Jesus said in His actions in being baptized, that He was the Savior of the World. He's not a regional Savior, sent only here or there, for this or that group; He was sent for all, for the sins of all, to forgive those sins and offer forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Many of you who are United Methodists have been alarmed by the recent news that all sides of the homosexuality issue have devised a plan that will allow the United Methodist Church to become the Un-tied Methodist Church. The end has not yet been decided, friends; there are many plans and the vote will take place on or after May 5, 2020. Among the possible results will be to divide the church into regional areas. I cannot stress enough that there are many options that will be before the Church and division is certainly the most possible. What that may look like no one knows. The reality is that for many years now we have been divided and broken; this General Conference will perhaps make it formal and final. I urge us all to be in prayer for what it is that God would have us be and what is best for His Kingdom. My prayer is that I want to be right before God, and I read the above words from St. Peter as God's inspired word for all people, not as words of condemnation but of hope and life. So, whatever you know that God may have deemed as a sin in your life and as an obstacle to abundant living, confess that to Jesus and ask Him to remove it from your life, and He will. Finally, when you have a chance, and if you have a United Methodist Hymnal, turn to page 45 in the front of it and read these words, "The church is of God, and will be preserved to the end of time, for the conduct of worship and the due administration of God's Word and Sacraments, the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline, the edification of believers, and the conversion of the world. All, of every age and station, stand in need of the means of grace which it alone supplies."
PRAYER: Loving God, speak to our hearts. Calm those who are worried and anxious about tomorrow; let us know that right now we are called to be right before and to seek fullness of life in You. Let us confess what we know we have said, thought, and done - not all were graciously accepted by You, and so we ask that our sins would be removed from our lives and allow us to stand righteous before You. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Speak a word of love and hope to your neighbor now and always.
Receive my blessings of love and peace.
Pastor Eradio Valverde
