Some time ago, I did some research and registered on an academic website. I was looking for resources on John Fletcher, the early Methodist leader. That search and registration put my name into a system. Since then, I've gotten emails, almost daily, asking if I'm "the John Fletcher that wrote...." Apparently, there are some pretty smart and gifted John Fletchers out there. Each time I see the email subject line, I think to myself, "No, I'm not that John Fletcher. I'm just me."
Did anyone with Peter have that kind of thought about themselves? Peter said things like, "God shows no partiality," and "that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:34; 43). I imagine someone thinking, "yea, but not me. He's talking about other people." But Peter had learned the lesson himself. The forgiveness of sins and abundance of life God promises is for all people. Even people who don't think they're worthy. Even people others don't think are worthy.
It surprised some that God's gift of the Holy Spirit would be "poured out" on gentiles. Even gentiles. They're those people. Those people who don't know how lost they are.
It turns out we're all just as lost.
I haven't checked, but this feels like a rare moment in scripture. Is this the only time someone else demands baptism for another person? Think of those gentiles who may have felt not as connected or as gifted by God. Peter "ordered them to be baptized" (Acts 10:48). But he wasn't demanding they subject themselves to something they weren't sure about. Rather, he was demonstrating God's outpouring. It was for all people. Even those people others had questions about.
Have you taken in the wonder that God's Spirit was poured out on you, too? Yes, you. Even you. You may not have the spiritual credentials you feel like others have, but did God say you had to? You're you and the Lord has always wanted to draw you into a life guided by the Spirit.
Stay blessed...john | 
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