Monday of Easter Week 5 – Devotion

Text: Acts 11:1–18

Many of us fear rejection—by family, friends, or our community—especially when our beliefs or actions challenge the status quo. There’s a deep human ache to belong, and yet following Jesus sometimes puts us at odds with what’s familiar.

In Acts 11, Peter returns to Jerusalem and is immediately criticized for eating with Gentiles. In the Jewish mind, this was crossing a firm boundary. But Peter recounts the vision God gave him—a sheet of unclean animals descending from heaven—and how the Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles just as He had on Jewish believers. “Who was I,” Peter asks, “that I could stand in God’s way?” (v. 17). The early church is being stretched by the Spirit to embrace the wideness of God’s mercy. And Peter, though misunderstood at first, is obedient to God’s mission.

This passage marks a turning point in Acts. The church is no longer an ethnic community with narrow borders—it’s a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered people drawn from every background. And that means belonging is no longer about ancestry or tradition but about grace.

Perhaps God is calling you to welcome someone outside your comfort zone—or to follow Him into unknown places yourself. You may be misunderstood or even criticized, but if the Spirit leads, obedience matters more than approval. Let God expand your vision of His kingdom.

Transform Our Hearts Through Prayer
Lord, You welcome all who come to You in faith. Thank You for breaking down the walls that divide. Forgive us for resisting Your work when it challenges our comfort. Holy Spirit, give us courage to follow You, and hearts wide enough to embrace the people You’re calling to Yourself. Amen.