OzThoughts – Thursday, 18th June, 2009

OzThoughts – Thursday, 18th June, 2009

“I am not a racist but…” I have heard those words often on talkback radio. I wonder if the people speaking know what racial discrimination is?
In Australia, “The Racial Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in many areas of public life. These include in employment, renting or buying property, the provision of goods and services, accessing public places and in advertising. The Act also prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred (racial vilification).
Peter (Acts 10) learn a big lesson when God gave him a vision and then applied that vision to his dealings with the men who came from Cornelius and then Cornelius himself.
Look how today’s reading starts:
“Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone.” (Acts 10:34-36 The Message)
And that is not all. Peter quickly relates some facts about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Peter tells about the Disciples being commissioned by Jesus to tell the good news of Jesus, the Holy Spirit intervened:
“No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.” (Acts 10:44-46 (The Message)
Peter, now, can truly say “I am not racist as ‘God plays no favourites!’”
[Listen : 1947 78rpm recording : http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/MF315%20-%20Vocal%20-%20Christ%20for%20the%20Whole%20Wide%20World.mp3 ]


Tell them in the east and in the west,
Tell them of the one you love the best.
Tell them how to find the sweetest rest
Leaning on the loving Saviour's breast.
Tell them all about the dear old book,
Tell them there is life just for a look;
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.

Chorus
Tell them of the baby in the manger laid,
Sent from Heaven above;
Tell them how for them he was a ransom paid,
Just because of love.
Tell them with your lips and by your actions too,
And with flag unfurled,
Tell it out with a shout, tell it out with a shout:
Christ for the whole wide world.

To the beat of Army drums, make known
That the Saviour-King has sin o'erthrown;
Tell the rich and poor, the sad and lone,
Till his power to everyone is shown.
Tell it to the people you may meet,
Tell it in the hall and in the street;
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.

Tell it to the young and to the old,
Tell them they may all be warriors bold,
Tell them of the shepherd and the fold,
Tell them of the heavenly harps of gold.
Tell it with a clarion voice so clear,
Let the story ring out far and near,
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.
Author: Arthur Smith Arnott (1870-1941), alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 829
Acts 10:34-48 (The Message)
34-36Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone.
37-38"You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
39-43"And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."
44-46No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.
46-48Then Peter said, "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.


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