No Partiality

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 

Acts 10:34-35 

God’s plan of salvation is wider than we can adequately comprehend.  John described the scene in heaven by saying, ‘After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ This indicates to us how wide this plan is. In the early days of the New Testament expansion of the Gospel there were cultural hurdles to overcome. The hurdles were in the minds of the disciples who were Israelites and historically culturally insular. In order for the Gospel to go to ‘the end of the earth’ as Christ had said, the view of the disciples would have to change. In revealing to Peter by the vision of the ceremonially unclean animals earlier in the chapter, Christ was removing Peter’s prejudice against preaching the Gospel to gentiles. Our text reveals he had gotten the lesson. It is a lesson which we also must grasp. From every culture, kingdom, tribe and nation, Christ is drawing His people. They are the ones He is adding to the Church He is building. They are all the redeemed of all ages. They are the ones who John saw at the Throne. We are privileged to be part of that great multitude to whom God has shown no partiality.  

High King of heaven, 
we rejoice that You are drawing all manner  
of people unto Christ. 
We praise You that we have the privilege 
to preach Christ to the end of the earth. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning