Bible Reading: Acts11
Memory verse: Mark 7:13, “…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
The greatest challenge humans have is how to renew our minds thinking. Someone rightly said that our spiritual battle is between our two ears. What we think controls how we react to situations. Unfortunately, our mindsets are shaped by our environment and it can hinder you from obeying God’s word. One example is found in the story of Cornelius in Acts 10.
Peter’s reluctance with going to the home of a non-Jew and a member of the invading army. However, before Jesus rose from the grave, he clearly mandated his followers to go into all the world and preach the good news to every creature. This appears to be a clear instruction, but the 11 disciples only preached the gospel to Jews for about nine years after Jesus had ascended into heaven. This was why God had to give Peter a trance in which he spoke to him clearly not to call the Gentiles unclean. That was the only reason why Peter followed the people sent to him by Cornelius, resulting in Peter leading them to Christ.
It is amazing how the Jewish tradition of not interacting with Gentiles held more value to Jesus’ disciples than obeying his commands. If the 11 could be victims of human traditions, so can we. It is important that we regularly search our hearts and way our motives and actions against scripture. Whenever we find ourselves falling shot, let us humble ourselves under the word of God by simply obeying it.