The Worst of the Worst

2.4.2011

(NOTE: Please see my note at the bottom)

Acts 11:18 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” NIV

What brand new and sparkling moments the disciples were having in these days following Pentecost. People were being saved and the truth was pouring forth in unprecedented ways. But some of the stuff that was happening was a little over the top… like when Peter went to see some Gentiles up in Caesarea.

The Jewish habit of the pot calling the kettle black was legendary – Jews did not, under any circumstances, associate with Gentiles. Gentiles may have been the only ones other than pigs who were worse to the Jews, so to have Peter go and share with them the Good News was tantamount to eating pig’s flesh – what a dirty and disgusting thing to do. For us, the modern equivalent would probably be like having a registered sex offender come to Christ and become a believer; we might say, ‘how can that be?’

Regardless of the mistakes we all make – and we all make them sooner or later – God has a place in His heart for those who come and say, “God I am sorry for the things I’ve done and ask You to forgive me and accept me because I believe in You and You are the Only One who can make all things right.” God loves people and desires that they stop killing themselves with sin and come to know life in Him. And that invitation is extended to the worst of the worst.

My job is to remember that the worst of the worst can make amends with God and though their pilgrimage may be difficult and often excruciating, God seems to accept the broken and the humble and has room in His home for us all.

Father in Heaven,
You love everybody and desire for all men to be saved; maybe Peter’s experience in Caesarea was the foundation for what he wrote years later in his second epistle. Regardless Lord, may I remember that You can do anything to anyone and that You’ve extended Your grace to everyone. Everyone seems to deserve a second chance – through Jesus, amen.

TO MY READERS:

I realize that there are possibly those among us who’ve suffered terribly at the hands of people who have done cruel and unusual things to us; and so it is with that sensitivity that I write today. I am not excusing the conduct of those who have done terrible things to innocents, possibly even the innocents we know personally. It honors God that criminals pay for their crimes.

But for the sake of my friend Carrie (a believer) who sits in prison for the next twenty years or so thinking about what she did to her infant son, I pray that God’s grace would extend to those who’ve done horrible things horribly. Through Christ, only God can right all wrongs and I need to give Him room to do so…