Continuing the story of the coming of the Gospel to non-Jewish believers which we began yesterday, I am again struck by the short-sightedness of the disciples. According to the NIV, they praised God for His goodness only once their objections to the action He had decided to take had been exhausted. Here we have to respect Peter as having been able to speak well enough to answer all of their many concerns and gripes. It is important, too, to realise that part of the concern of the believers might have very easily been for their own safety. The more people welcomed in to their inner circle, the more chance there would be for persecution and all that came with it. Most likely though is a theological mis-understanding of what God sought to do in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. In effect, the believers limited the scope of what they thought God’s purpose could be or what Jesus could achieve.
How often do we do this? We ask God for things we can imagine, or things which are just beyond the reach or scope of our hoping, but that we can just about dare to dream for. How small our faith is! God has done more than we can ever dream of, and will continue to do so. Our faith exists merely to be blown out of the water and enlarged day by day. Every single time we put a limit on what God is allowed to do, who He is allowed to welcome in to His kingdom, He will prove us wrong, selfish, sinful, unworthy ourselves. The task of the Christian is to love, it is not to mediate or referee salvation. God does this. Rest in His presence and your security, and love other people so that they might know Him too.