Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek
1 July 2025
Reading From Acts 10:24-48
“While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
—Acts 10:27-29
It may well have been a law of the Sanhedrin that Jews were not to “associate with or visit a Gentile,” but such segregation is actually contrary to the Law of Moses. Exodus 22:21 says, “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” And in Leviticus 19:33-34, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”[1] From the very beginning it was God’s intention for Israel to share their abundance with Gentiles and teach them the ways of Yahweh. But Israel became culturally and even religiously ethno-centric to the point where by Peter’s day they had lost sight of their original, missional purpose.
God was working on Peter’s heart and I believe He will work on our hearts too if we submit to His will and allow the Spirit to have His way within us. Peter went on to share with the household of Cornelius and the crowd that had gathered, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Salvation had to come through someone and Yahweh happened to choose the Jews. But redemption was never meant to be hoarded; the love and message of Jesus, the Son of David, is meant to be shared with as many people as possible regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic background, culture, gender or any other factor that mankind has decided to make an issue of.
Peter continued preaching, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”[2]
The Jewish prophets had communicated hundreds of Messianic prophecies for thousands of years before the birth of Jesus. In the Old Covenant, God had wanted the nations of the ancient world to come to Israel and receive His light, wisdom and knowledge. But in this New Covenant, the people of God are to go into all the world and make disciples.
This passage shows that the outpouring of the Spirit and speaking in tongues was not a one and done event on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. He is poured out again and again upon all those willing to believe and receive. It is also interesting to note that these believers were born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit and then were baptized in water. The gift of the Holy Spirit does not necessarily happen at the new birth or at water baptism, although it can.
As we have seen in the life of the original followers of Jesus, they received the indwelling of the Spirit after the atonement (which was their new birth experience) and then later they were baptized in the Holy Spirit meaning they received an endowment and overflow of power, passion and special spiritual insight. As believers, we need to seek more from the Lord and seek to be filled with Him to overflowing again and again. We should not entrench ourselves in prideful resistance to the supernatural; we should want the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, reveal more to us from Heavenly Father, and walk in step with Him all the days of our lives.
“Lord, bring Your Church together in unity as Your Body. May we lay aside our earthly differences, set our minds on things above and fix our eyes upon You. ‘And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’[3] Let us reject racism and all forms of prejudice and endeavor to love as You have taught us to love; freely and generously. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Fill us to overflowing that Your love and grace and mercy would spill over from our lives and into the lives of those around us who are hurting and lost. May we serve You in the beauty of holiness, glorifying and honoring Your holy Name. Amen.”
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
—Galatians 3:28-29
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Ephesians 5:18-20
[1] See also Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Matthew 25:35, Hebrews 13:2
[2] Acts 10:43-48
[3] “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel, 1922, Public Domain
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