Peter Defends His Actions

Sunday School Review

Peter Defends His Actions

Acts 11:1-8a

For Sunday October 25, 2015

by Superintendent Liz Hope

There are some true facts in life. One of them is that conflict will arise. As my Mother used to say, even your teeth and toungue fall out sometime. This week's lesson deal with conflict between the Jews and the Gentiles on what you would call Christian principles. The differing of their beliefs. There are times that we must deal with conflict because of our differences. But God never intended for the differences to hinder our ability to show others Christ.

Peter thought that defending his upbringing would get him out of what God purposed him to do. But it didn't, and neither will yours or mine. It does not matter where we started, or even how we got here. God wants you to reach across differences to reach somebody. Putting up your differences to say, no Lord won't fly with God. It's time to take Peter's example. 

When Peter changed, it caused growth, and revival. It is in the conflict that God can show through, as Luke 6:31 (NIV) tells us, Do to others as you would have them do to you.  The decision to act different in the midst of differences, can casue a different outcome in your situation too. Instead of defending what is expected, do something unexpected, don't defend the difference, do something that breaks down barriers for Christ. It's on you and me to get it done. That's another fact of life. God uses ordinary people.

Superintendent Liz Hope

Psalms-31:24