PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson Acts 10:44-48 The boundaries fall

Time to reflect: The early church struggled with its identity. Was God's Spirit limited to only the (old) Chosen People, Israel? Or did the Christ event open the promises to all people? In this story, Peter demonstrated clearly that it was the latter. Everything else is history...

Moving through the day: What boundaries do we set up to limit God? How do we try to keep God for ourselves? These boundaries may not be obvious (race, politics, etc) but can be subtle divisions. If the Church could break down such a basic division as Jew vs Gentile, what other boundary can stand?

Scripture:

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 the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

   Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from 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.