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At the request of our student leadership team, we are studying through the book of Acts this semester. This week, we are in chapter 10 and discussing Peter's interaction with Cornelius. God showed Peter that he "must not call any person impure or unclean" (10:28b).
I think it's an easy point to agree on that we are to love people like Jesus did. We can also look at this situation with Peter and Cornelius and others in the Scriptures and agree that "through His (Jesus') name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins" (Acts 10:43). But sometimes we still struggle with an inner monologue of judgment and condemnation. We may think that someone's life is so full of sin and that they are so far from Jesus that there's no hope. Or maybe we despise their sin so adamantly that we no longer see the person, and we turn our nose up and cross the proverbial street to avoid interaction
In Peter's day, it was frowned upon for a Jew to associate with or visit a foreigner because they were unclean, and just that association might make the Jew unclean, which would mean they weren't able to properly worship in the temple. But God demands more. Jesus didn't die for the good folks who dress right and occupy their designated space in a pew on a Sunday morning.
I want to encourage you to see the lost and hurting people of this world like Jesus does. What can you do to be a reflection of Jesus in someone's life who hasn't been loved by the church lately?
Keep praying for our students and the ministry of CCF as we continue to spend time in the Word of God.
Andy
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