1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,510 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,550 --> 00:00:18,099 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:18,140 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by Acts chapter 10, verses 34 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: and 35, which says, So Peter opened his mouth and said, 6 00:00:28,420 --> 00:00:32,650 Speaker 1: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, But in 7 00:00:32,770 --> 00:00:36,030 Speaker 1: every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is 8 00:00:36,090 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: right is acceptable to him. Peter was in a very 9 00:00:41,979 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: unique situation. He had grown up avoiding Gentiles. He was 10 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: taught by the words and examples of others to look 11 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,740 Speaker 1: down on Gentiles. And it took the intervention of God 12 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,420 Speaker 1: and the admonition of the Apostle Paul to shake Peter 13 00:00:56,660 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: out of that mindset. Now he was in a room, 14 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: surrounded by Gentiles, who desperately wanted to hear what Peter 15 00:01:04,580 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: had to say. He was surrounded by sincere people who 16 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:12,540 Speaker 1: wanted to hear God's truth proclaimed. They were open vessels. 17 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: They were ready to have their false beliefs challenged so 18 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,700 Speaker 1: they could come to know the Lord of all creation, 19 00:01:19,050 --> 00:01:24,090 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. So Peter opened his mouth and proclaimed Jesus. 20 00:01:25,870 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: Every day we're surrounded by people who need Jesus. They 21 00:01:29,670 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: may not yet realize how much they need Him, and 22 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,059 Speaker 1: maybe we don't always realize how much we need Him either. 23 00:01:35,860 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: But their hearts are heavy, and they're weighed down with 24 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: burdens and anxieties that they don't know what to do with. 25 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: Their hearts desperately need to hear and believe some good news, 26 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,650 Speaker 1: but at present they remain in their downcast state. If 27 00:01:52,810 --> 00:01:55,130 Speaker 1: no one will take the risk to open their mouth, 28 00:01:55,590 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: and make the joyful truth of Christ's gospel known to 29 00:01:58,950 --> 00:02:03,020 Speaker 1: these folks, they will never know the joy he freely offers. 30 00:02:04,020 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: Will you be the one to open your mouth? Let's pray. Lord, 31 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,500 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you 32 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 33 00:02:15,980 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: look at this portion of scripture from the book of 34 00:02:18,020 --> 00:02:21,780 Speaker 1: Acts today. And Lord, we're grateful that this portion of 35 00:02:21,820 --> 00:02:25,750 Speaker 1: your word starts off by saying that Peter opened his mouth. 36 00:02:26,110 --> 00:02:29,930 Speaker 1: He spoke up and he said something that mattered. He 37 00:02:30,010 --> 00:02:33,810 Speaker 1: testified to the gospel of your son, Jesus Christ, and 38 00:02:33,830 --> 00:02:37,450 Speaker 1: he helped people who were feeling like outcasts and feeling 39 00:02:37,490 --> 00:02:39,910 Speaker 1: like they were on the outside. He helped them to 40 00:02:40,090 --> 00:02:43,330 Speaker 1: understand what it looks like to truly believe in your 41 00:02:43,389 --> 00:02:49,180 Speaker 1: son and to enjoy an eternal relationship with you. Father, 42 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,060 Speaker 1: we're grateful that you make this possible. And we're grateful 43 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: for the people that you've placed in our lives that 44 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:56,950 Speaker 1: have told us the gospel. People that have modeled it. 45 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,660 Speaker 1: People that have proclaimed it. People that have preached it 46 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: from pulpits. People that have written about it in books. 47 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: And Lord, likewise, we know that you've placed us in 48 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: the lives of other people. There are people who need 49 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: to hear your truth. There are people who need to 50 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,820 Speaker 1: know your gospel, who as of yet, they don't know it. 51 00:03:16,530 --> 00:03:19,669 Speaker 1: But we know it. And you've called us just like 52 00:03:19,710 --> 00:03:24,090 Speaker 1: you called Peter. to open our mouths. So, Lord, we 53 00:03:24,130 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: pray that we would answer that calling. We pray that 54 00:03:27,060 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: we would joyfully testify to your love and your presence 55 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: in our lives. Thank you, Lord, for this example from 56 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:36,970 Speaker 1: your word, and we pray that you'd strengthen us to 57 00:03:37,010 --> 00:03:39,890 Speaker 1: walk with you today as we seek to live this out. 58 00:03:40,950 --> 00:03:43,530 Speaker 1: We're grateful for all of these things, and we pray 59 00:03:43,550 --> 00:03:46,530 Speaker 1: this all in Jesus' name. Amen.