Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Acts 11: When criticized......

Doing miracles and getting tabbed by Jesus as the new Chief Shepherd doesn't exempt Peter from criticism. The old Peter would have blustered or denied. What about Spirit-filled Peter?

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”  4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story..... 5

When criticized, Peter doesn't get defensive. He doesn't point fingers. He hides nothing, because he has nothing to hide. He's been called to witness (Acts 1) and that's what he does.

He wins over the traditionalists: "When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Sometimes the shortest path between suspicion and acceptance is explanation. Especially when there is a willingness to listen.

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