One Nation

Today's Reading: Acts 10

Scripture:
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message." Acts 10:44

Observation:
This is truly an amazing scene in the Bible. The Romans and the Jews were two people groups separated by many things. Race, customs, religions, ethnicity, and a history of violence all came together to create an impenetrable wall of separation between these two groups.

That is what is so amazing about this scene. As Peter spoke to this group of Roman soldiers and citizens, the Holy Spirit came down and in an instant centuries of separation where destroyed and they were brought together as one. No longer were they Jew and Gentile; now they were joint heirs and followers of Christ.

Application:
Everything in this country is divided by race or status. The South seems to be the part of the country who takes most of the blame for being racist, but it exists everywhere. I have spent a great deal of time in San Francisco. San Fran is known to be a place of great tolerance. But here is something interesting to me, it is very much a divided place. When you look at a map of the city it is literally divided by race and social status. You can literally see lines on the map and the sections are named. People who know the city can tell you what type of people live where. So even in the most liberal of societies the differences in people (race, ethnicity, social status or lifestyle) separate people.

We are very much a country divided just as Rome was. As I read this passage the application to me is this, God tore down the divides in Rome. He did not use a massive rebellion- that had been tried before. He did not use legislation. He did not use a campaign of tolerance. In this case, He chose to use the quiet times of two men- Peter and Cornelius.

These two men were dedicated to seeking God daily. Not just early morning or bedtime prayers, but every 3 hours found them sitting somewhere seeking the face of God. That is the level of dedication that ushers in the movement of God. That is the level of dedication required to break down what divides us. That is the level of dedication to which God is calling me.

Prayer:
Father I think so small when it comes to my prayers. This passage reminds me that seeking You in prayer literally has the power to breakdown barriers. It has the power to re-unite a country that is very much divided. Democrats and Republicans. Black and white. Hispanic and Asian. Help us today realize that You only see two groups of people; followers of Christ or rejecters of Christ, and that You desire above all things to see these two groups become one. Move upon the prayers of Your people and return this country to what it once was; One Nation Under One God.