January 14, 2010 - Acts 11:17

“’So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?’” Acts 11:17.
Peter reaches the end of his explanation for his actions at Cornelius’ house, finishing with this potent question. God had poured out the Holy Spirit on this Gentile household in a similar manner as He had done with Peter and the other Jewish followers. To their credit, they recognized that it was God’s activity and decided, as a result, that they could not oppose it. Interestingly enough, it was another group of leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who rejected God’s activity in Jesus Christ. God was doing something new, and these early followers of Jesus recognized Him and followed after Him.
Sometimes, we can oppose God by not recognizing something new that He is doing around us or in us. (The truth of the matter is that, most likely, it is not necessarily new; it is just new to us.) There have been times that I get so used to doing things in a certain way, even if it takes me much longer or at greater inconvenience. I am a creature of habit. When a new, more efficient way is presented to me, my initial reaction is to resist or oppose it. This carries over into the spiritual realm. Something new is revealed, and yet, I stay stuck in my old patterns and beliefs. Or someone becomes a follower of Jesus that is “surprising.” Yet, who am I “to think that I could oppose God.” God has His agenda, and I need to try to recognize it and follow.
Questions to consider: How do you resist or oppose God? Are you open to the possibility that you could be resisting Him? Is there anyone who God has accepted that you struggle to accept?
Prayer: Father, it is not my heart to resist or oppose You. Yet, I know that there are times that I do. Please help me to recognize these moments, as these early followers in Acts did, and say, as they said, “Who am I to think that I could oppose You?” Amen.