The God of Every Man

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: Acts 10:34-36; Acts 10:44-48
  
• O: Can't we all just get along?
  
• A: It is clear that God's intention is for us to live in peace and harmony, regardless of our race, birthright, national origin, or religion. As the Apostle Luke reports in the book of Acts, God has brought together a Jew and a Gentile for the very reason of proving this point.
  "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from -- if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel -- that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again -- well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone." ... No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" Gentiles, but there it was -- they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God. Then Peter said, "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:34-36, 44-48 MSG)
  The world is filled today with several kinds of people. I'll name just a few: (1) those who love, appreciate, and promote peace; (2) those who would have you believe that their god is calling them to kill in his name; (3) those who find themselves defending the rest of us from the second group listed above by taking up arms and fighting back. It's clear that, first of all, God -- the only God -- is not directing people of any religion to kill others in His name. If they do so, it is because they are either (a) deluded into believing it, or (b) blaspheming the name of God by killing in his name. It would be a wonderful world if we could all live as those in the first group listed above promote, but that is not the world that we live in today, because the enemy -- Satan -- has been given the freedom to move among us and tempt us to act on his behalf. With whom will you stand? The enemy, or the Ultimate Victor? Would God have you turn your back on those in need, or lend a hand in their defense?
  
• P: Lord, as we continue to defend our country -- the world -- from the tyrants who claim to kill in the name of Allah, guide those who defend us to do what is right and just, to fight only defensively, not provoking or prolonging the fight. Help us to win a swift victory against the enemy -- against the armies influenced by Satan.
  

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