Daily Liturgy and Scripture Alex Parrish

The new fellowship of Jews and non-Jews wasn't automatic, some of the believers went out still working in the old, "Jews-only" way. Being patient with one another is critical, because not everyone sees things happening at the same time. Luckily, the Spirit is present in all.

Everything is new in this new Kingdom of Jesus. New fellowship of both Jews and Gentiles, new baptism in the Spirit, new kingship by Jesus. But God is still the God of Jews, and he has not forgotten them. The different is that the Jewish people are not the owners of the promise, Jesus fulfilled God's promise to them and brings a new one.

Peter and Cornelius have both met with God in prayer, and that connection is what God has used to start a new chapter in church history: baptizing non-Jews. This level of inclusion meant that while Jesus and the apostles were Jews, Christians were a new classification all their own.

The ways in which God chooses to reveal new things aren't always direct. Speaking to Peter in the language of eating things to reveal the expansion of God's people may seem odd, but God knows our minds.

Building a legacy of faith was critical in the early days of the church, which is perhaps the reason that these believers were being resurrected. Certainly, they died again, but the power of the Spirit was also showing itself as the young church formed its identity.

Moments where scales fall from our eyes give us an insight into things we haven't seen before. Perhaps it comes with the downfall of a favorite leader, the unraveling of a deeply held belief, or the ending of a dream. Whatever the case, letting go of what may be a lesser pursuit may be the opening to a greater one.