July 22
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“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'”  (Acts 10:34-35, NIV)

As Peter was before his vision (please see Acts 10:9ff), we prefer people we like; and we prefer people like us.  This is our nature apart from God, and it is the starting point of racism, sexism, nationalism, and all other preferences based on outward appearances and other superficial traits.

When we begin to see people as God sees people, we will be humbled by how often our personal preferences are tied to the most superficial human qualities.  We will also be amazed at how often the persons accepted by God are 180-degrees out from us in physical appearance, cultural background, native language, and national origin.

God commands us to be like Him: Accepting of every person (nationality, race, culture, gender) “who fears Him and does what is right.”  – Luther

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July 21
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“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord; and He will repay him for his good deed.  (Proverbs 19:17, NASB)

We would never think it necessary to lend money to Warren Buffet or to Bill Gates.  Each is worth billions of dollars and, I presume, have few (if any) creditors.

God has more than Gates and Buffet — combined!  The scripture tells us that when we are gracious to the pauper, we are lending to God — and God will repay us — one and all — for our good deed.

Imagine what it must feel like to be a creditor of the Almighty.  Imagine what it must feel like to receive His re-payment.  We can experience both every time we are gracious to the lost, the last, and the least among us.  – Luther

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July 20
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“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:6-8, NIV)

God’s love for all of us is unconditional — particularly those who have no use for God.

The noted German pastor, Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) said: “It took me a long time to learn that God is not the enemy of my enemies.  He is not even the enemy of His enemies.”  The enemies of Niemoller’s reference were the Nazis.  While he had good reason to hate Hitler and his ilk, Niemoller knew that for Christ’s sake, he had no excuse.

We must take to heart that if God chooses reconciliation with His enemies, we, too, must choose reconciliation with both our enemies, and the enemies of God.

Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians is a pointed reminder of God’s love for all persons and of our obligation to follow our heavenly Father’s example.  – Luther

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