God’s work is sometimes surprising, and it always brings change
By Dean Collins
There were other murders in Scripture, but the murder of Stephen (Acts 7) brought change. It wasn’t instant, and it has been a slow rollout ever since. Change is often much slower than we want. It’s also slower than God wants. But thank God that he hasn’t given up on us or anyone else as we are painfully slow at letting his Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
Before we bow up and get too judgmental, let’s first remember that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are his image bearers. Some days we shine well, and other days our attitudes and behaviors block the view of God we are to reveal through our attitudes and behaviors. Our self-determination to live our way instead of God’s way is as old as the garden of Eden. That is a reality but not the outcome God wants for us or for anyone.
Transformation
Peter, the other apostles, and several more had heard what Jesus said: “...all the world...beginning in Jerusalem, all of Judaea, Samaria, and the most remote parts of the world.” But practicing and experiencing this worldwide Kingdom program is easier said than done. And it’s especially easy if we limit this Kingdom enterprise only to preaching or evangelism. It’s harder if you consider that Jesus was talking transformation. This gospel was not only meant to cover our sin problem. The gospel also transforms our thinking and behavior. It’s one thing to talk about Jesus and something completely different to live like Jesus.
Stephen was living like Jesus and the result was his death from the hands of religious folks. Peter was following Jesus when he received the vision that helped him understand the expansive and invasive nature of the gospel. Cornelius was actually living a life that was directing him toward the gospel when he had his vision. Now in Acts 11 we find apostles and others catching up with what just happened.
True story
It usually doesn’t take long for a critic to appear when someone boldly follows Jesus. In fact, the criticism might be that you’re overly zealous or you aren’t orthodox, and certainly your motives will be called into question. Peter felt the vibes in the room and began to tell his story. It was a true story, but it wasn’t a story filled with dogma and doctrine. He simply shared what the Holy Spirit had done in his presence and for people who were very different than what the Jerusalem believers were used to seeing. His final statement was crystal clear: “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way”?
The first reaction to Peter’s words was silence, followed by celebration that brought glory to God. What had happened that day with Cornelius and his fellow Gentiles (Acts 10) was another chapter of Pentecost. It was no longer just the words of the Great Commission; it was evidence of the Kingdom of God being lived out in the flesh.
God is working
Stephen’s death pushed the Jewish Christians out of their towns and out of their comfort zones. When we follow Jesus, it will do the same for us. We may end up serving in a different place and fellowshipping with different people.
Sometimes the gospel message will have been told ahead of change, and sometimes we are to show up with the gospel message because nonbelievers have discovered gospel truth but do not yet realize it. When there are movements in society filled with justice and mercy, God is working. God is also waiting for Christ followers to lean in with love. As much as each of us would like the changes to happen on our timeline we can neither slow God’s work nor do the work that only God can do. We can’t change anyone’s heart, but we can show them what a heart and life changed by God looks and behaves like.
May God give us eyes to see what God is doing in our communities and beyond. And may we be willing to surrender our wills to his call to participate. When we do, the reactions may be similar to what Peter saw that day: stunned silence followed by glorious celebration of God’s power at work in us.
Your time with God’s Word
Acts 11:1-18 ESV
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