December 3, 2009 - Acts 10:47

“’Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’” Acts 10:47.
The group that came with Peter to Cornelius’ house could not believe what had happened, yet they could not deny it. The Holy Spirit had come to the people of this household just as He had come to the early followers of Jesus. What was different about this occurrence was that everyone in Cornelius’ household was Gentile, and these disciples had not known any non-Jewish people to become followers of Jesus. And they were still trying to figure out how to “keep these people from being baptized.”
While I may not consciously segregate, I know that deep inside me there are people that I would rather not associate with. And if something as dramatic as what happened at Cornelius’ home happened among these people, I would probably try to think of a way how I could stay separate from them. And being as “civilized” as we are in the West, I am certain that a palatable method could be achieved. The end result would still be the same, and people would still be separated – and my bigotry would not be exposed!
Even though these disciples were seeking to maintain their religious purity, as they understood it from their Jewish roots, segregation and bigotry were still present. To their credit, Cornelius and his household were baptized, yet the underlying problem festered on for years to come. And down through the centuries, we still battle with bigotry on one level or another.
Questions to consider: Is there a race/ethnic/religious (or other) group that you have a prejudice against? What is God’s heart concerning this? What steps can you take to begin to (or continue to) overcome this?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see whom I seek to segregate myself from, give me a heart to seek Your forgiveness for this separation, and give me the heart to change. Amen.