More of the Story: Breaking the Rules

(Peter said) "In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” ~ Acts 3:18-26
It seems those most likely to miss God's work in the world are those most convinced they know exactly what to look for, the ones who expect God to play by the rules. ~ Rachel Held Evans
Jesus wasn't the Messiah people expected.

 He wasn't like Moses. He wasn't like David. He wasn't like Elijah.

 So it was easy to miss him if you didn't know who you were looking for.

 Peter knew this better than most. He was with Jesus during all his ministry and he still didn't always "get it." He thought he knew what God was about in the world.

 He thought he knew the rules.

 But then God did something surprising, and Peter, when he finally got it said: "See? This is what God had planned all along!"

 Peter wants the Israelites to get it too.

 He wants them to see that Jesus came to them first. 

 He wants them to remember what Abraham was told: that they were meant to be a blessing to the nations.

 He wants them to see how Jesus showed them that.

 He wants them to know what being a blessing means.

 He wants them to see that God is after reconciling all things. Reconciling everyone.

 And God's going to do it no matter what.

 So maybe they - and we - need to not look so much to the rules of how it's been done before, and open our eyes and ears and heart to how God is doing it now!
Prayer: Open the eyes of my heart O God so I can be a blessing to the nations! Amen.



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