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STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS, GOD HAS NO FAVOURITES (ACT 10:25-48)

REFLECTION

“Stopped in his tracks, God has no favourites” is the theme for our reflection. To stop someone in his or her tracks means to cause the person to suddenly stop what he or she is doing, usually due to surprise or confusion. God has no favourites means God does not show partiality but accepts all people from every nation and race who are willing to be saved. Peter was stopped in his tracks by God and was made to focus on the gift of salvation to the Gentiles rather than the racial differences between the Jews and the Gentiles. We shall deliberate on the fact that we must not allow our culture, race, and other differences to prevent us from sharing the Good News and fellowshipping with others.

Dear friend, Peter was stopped in his tracks when he realized that through the power of the Gospel and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Jews were no longer considered superior or cleaner than the Gentiles. “While talking with Cornelius, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection…: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism  35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Act 10:28-29,34-35). In other words, the fact that we have a relationship with God does not mean that others are not welcome to embrace the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation belongs to God, not man, it is for this reason Jesus said to the disciples “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Beloved in the Lord, being a believer or a Christian does not prevent us from associating ourselves with people of other racial groups or ethnic groups. Christianity has no room for racism, classism and tribalism, thus we observed Peter who was a Jew going to preach in Cornelius, the Gentile’s house, God’s mission is to use us for His glory by sending us into the world to preach the Good News as commanded by Jesus in Mathew 28:18-20. God has stopped us in our tracks to desist from looking down on others or considering them unclean hence our decision to have nothing to do with them even if they earnestly desire to hear the Good News. Paul reminds us in Galatians 2:8-9 that “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Galatians 2:8-9). We are again admonished by Paul that “… in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28). Beloved in the Lord, it takes the unconditional love of Christ to overcome our differences and become partakers in God’s mission of saving the world.

The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutus and Twas, were killed by armed Hutu militias. The most regrettable account of the Rwandan Genocide is that some Hutu Priests or Pastors deceptively welcomed Tutsis seeking refuge in their chapels only to later call armed Hutu Militias to kill them in their chapels. Most of these victims were women, girls, and children. Some of these victims were the parishioners of these pastors or priests, but for tribalism, the Tutsis were considered to be cockroaches and were murdered in the very Chapel where they found refuge. My dear friend in Christ, it is important to note that once we are saved in Christ, our fellowship as children of God supersedes any pre-existing divisions or differences. In Christ, there are no Anlos or Ewedomes. Indeed, in Christ, all Gas, Akans, Guans, Mamprusis, and other ethnic groups and tribes in Africa are one family. Christians who are tribalistic or ethnocentric are stopped in their tracks by this reflection and greatly admonished to allow themselves to be led by God just as Peter was led to renew his mind and conviction towards the Gentiles Let us all remember that we were all considered Gentiles, but by His grace, we are now partakers and heirs of the Kingdom of God.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme ” stopped in his tracks, God has no favourites” We have learnt that we must not allow our culture, race, and other differences to prevent us from sharing the Good News with others. It is the will of God to fellowship with others through the preaching of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, stop us in our tracks and empower us to overcome our differences even as we focus our attention on God’s mission of saving the lost and perishing in the world. Amen,