Written by Mark Driskill:
Wednesday March 23, 2011
Read Acts 11:1-4
“So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcision party criticized him…”
Are you a guardian or a giver of grace? Are you drawing lines around the gospel or crossing them? Sometimes it seems we become more interested in protecting the good news than in sharing it. Peter discovered this after his experience with Cornelius. He had just returned from a great move of the Holy Spirit. He was there as the Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles and the gospel began to move into all the world.
What an awesome moment this must have been as Peter realized the heart of God was truly set on reaching the nations of the earth. In this fisherman’s heart God became much larger than Israel, and even the world. Then as he returned to Jerusalem his song of joy was muted out by religious people demanding an explanation. “You went to the Gentiles and ate with them!” the guardians of grace said to him. In their minds Peter had gone just a little too far. He was becoming extreme, out of line, over the top. You see in their minds there was a clear line drawn on God’s grace. They had drawn the line around the borders of Israel. Never mind the fact that Jesus had told his apostles they would go to the ends of the earth with his gospel. They had drawn a line and wanted Peter to explain why he had crossed it.
You see the Spirit of religion is always drawing lines around the gospel. Whenever you step out in faith to expand the kingdom of God there is always someone ready to criticize you for it. There is always someone appointed by the enemy with a ruler in hand ready to whack you on the wrist for taking God’s grace just a little too far. Even Jesus hometown folks tried to throw him off a cliff. Why? Because he dared to suggest that God cared for Syrian Lepers and Widows from Zaraphath. It seems we all have a line we want to draw around the gospel. We all have a tendency to say God loves the whole world until the whole world includes the wrong people.
If we would get in touch with the heart passion of Jesus we would find our lines fading away as we discover what whosoever really means.
Peter had been a line drawer himself until he witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit on those at Antioch. After that he was changed forever. His vision expanded along with is heart. This is what the Spirit longs to do in each of us. He wants to transform us from line drawing religious people into line crossing apostles of grace.
What lines have you drawn around God? Who have you written off ? Given up on? What does whosoever mean to you? Ask the Holy Spirit to expand your heart, and cause the lines to fade. Become a line crosser today.
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy.
Mark is web minister for Begotten by theWord , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources.
Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program. Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
