Acts 10:24-29
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 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. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
Jesus died so that our sins might be washed clean – we can all come to God on account of that sacrifice on the cross. So, there are no unacceptable people in God’s kingdom; we are all equal in God’s sight and here, we in the church are reminded about that. We are called as Christians to accept the stranger into our midst without condition and treat them as our equals.
Lord, help me always to welcome the stranger into our midst, to help others feel the warmth of your love and to stand with those in need.
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