February 9, 2012 - Acts 22:21 (part 1)

“’Then the Lord said to me, “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”’” Acts 22:21 – part 1.
With the Super Bowl just being played, I heard several people having a difficult time picking the team that they wanted to win. It wasn’t because both teams were so evenly matched, which would make for a close and exciting game. For most of the people I talked with the problem was that they each had their own favorite team, and their team did not get along with one of the teams in the Big Game! Eagle, Redskin, and Cowboy fans did not want to see the Giants win, and most everyone did not want to see the Patriots win (only a slight exaggeration!).
In Paul’s day, Jewish people felt even more hostile toward Gentiles. If you were not Jewish, they would not associate with you. Paul, having been trained as a Pharisee and a Jew of Jews, would have been zealous in his hostility for Gentiles. Yet, after Paul called Jesus his Lord, he was called to take the Good News concerning Jesus to the Gentile world. He was challenged to go into an extremely difficult ministry field for a Jewish person. And, because of his willingness to serve his Lord, Jesus, Paul gladly went to the Gentiles.
Questions to consider: Has God ever called you into a situation where you were very uncomfortable? If so, how did you respond to God, and what was the experience like for you? If not, why not, and what would it look like if God called you to relate to a group of people that you did not like?
Prayer: Father, please show me the limitations of who I will go to with Your Good News. Give me the courage to lay down those limitations and the strength to take Your Good News wherever You desire for me to go. Amen.