Re:Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day three)
“Surely not, Lord!” There is a strain of thinking that warns us against disagreement with God, against verbalizing our negative reaction to his direction. But repeatedly in scripture we see honesty with God met not with anger, but engagement. Abraham opposed God’s intention to destroy Sodom, and God granted escape to Abraham’s family. Jonah disputed God’s withholding of the destruction of Nineveh, and that conversation enabled Jonah to see God’s compassion for non-Hebrews. Here, Peter’s honest dissent resulted in the revelation that Christ came to seek and to save all men, regardless of ethnicity or culture. There is such a thing as rebellion against God. But disagreement is not disloyalty. God can tell the difference. And he’ll use it as an occasion to shine the light of understanding.