Life: Acts 11:17-18

Acts 11:17-18

(Peter said) "If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

What else is God about if not life and love?

And how are life or love complete if not shared beyond our ability to count? 

Way back in Genesis, God said to Abram about the blessing being given to him: "In you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

The life that God promised Abram was not meant for Abram and his family alone. Instead, God was making Abram a vehicle for blessing and life for the entire world.

And somewhere along the way, Abram's descendants seemed to forget that.

And sometimes I forget that.

We can look at the blessings in our life, but when we forget that those blessings aren't meant for us alone, we miss the bigger story. God's plan for the world is one of blessing for everyone.

Blessings to be shared.

God's plan for the world is life.

Those early Jewish Christians were surprised as to who that life was being offered. It wasn't who they expected.

And those blessings are still meant to be shared beyond our immediate view. Still meant to be shared beyond ourselves, our families, our congregations, our nation.

Shared so that all may know the richness of life.

Lord, bless me to be a blessing of life to the world. Amen.