This morning I was reading from Acts 10:44-48. This is one of the stories in which we see the original followers of Jesus opening up to the inclusion of those who were not already practitioners of the Jewish faith. While we my know, somewhere deep in our minds, that this was the case, it helps to be reminded every now and then.
In this instance, it is Peter who makes a pronouncement. He is speaking, and as he is doing so "the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word... (they began) speaking in tongues and extolling God."
Peter then says, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
I said earlier that there was an opening up of The Way, to include Gentiles. And it is a long process. This section of Acts is one step. From it we can draw two lessons for today: One - the Holy Spirit moves where it wills. And, there seem to be few limits on where it goes. We should keep that in mind the next time we are tempted to say who is and who is not a part of God's family. Second, the presence of the Spirit is revealed in the lives of those who receive it.
We were talking about this latter point yesterday, in our LCM class. It is unthinkable that God would move our hearts and that our hands and voices would not make that movement known.
No doubt, those first Gentiles realized that they had been invited where few had gone before. They understood the honor associated with inclusion. If we could remember what it is like to be the outsider who has become the insider we might more often display the signs of inclusion.
Pastor Chris
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