Day 20 – Crossing Cultural Boundaries
Reflect: “What barriers—cultural, social, economic, or racial—can prevent us from crossing boundaries with the gospel?”
Ruth 1:1-18
1In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.6When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. 8Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” 11But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” 14At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Acts 10:1-48
Cornelius sends for Peter1Cornelius, a Roman centurion of the Italian Regiment, lived in Caesarea.2He and his household were God-fearing people. Cornelius gave generously to those in need and was a man of prayer.3At around three in the afternoon one day, he had a vision of an angel coming from God and calling his name: "Cornelius."4Cornelius was afraid but couldn't help staring intently at the angel: "What is it, Lord?" He asked. The angel replied: "God has heard your prayers and is aware of your gifts to the poor.5Send some men to Joppa to fetch a man called Simon Peter,6who is staying with Simon the leather-worker who lives by the sea."7When the angel had disappeared, Cornelius called two of his servants and also a devout soldier who was one of his personal staff.8He told them of the vision and sent them to Joppa.Peter's vision9Around noon on the following day, while they were making their way to Joppa, Peter was praying on the roof of the house where he was staying.10He was hungry and wanted something to eat but fell into a trance while his meal was being prepared.11In a vision he saw that the heavens were opened and what appeared to be like a large sheet was being let down to the ground by its four corners.12In the sheet were a variety of animals, reptiles and birds.13Then Peter heard a voice telling him: "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."14Shocked, Peter replied: "No way, Lord! Never have I eaten anything forbidden or considered ritually unclean."15The voice addressed him again: "Do not say that anything is unclean if I have made it clean."16This happened three times before the sheet was taken up into heaven.The Lord sends Peter to Cornelius' household17While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, those sent by Cornelius had found their way to the house and were at the gate.18They called out, enquiring if Simon Peter was staying there.19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him: "Simon, three men are calling for you.20Get up and go down to meet them. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."21So Peter went downstairs and told the men: "I am the one you want. Why have you come?"22The men replied: "The centurion Cornelius sent us. He is a good and God-fearing man, greatly respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to invite you to come to his house so he can hear whatever you have to say."23So Peter invited them in to stay as his guests. On the next day Peter, together with some of the brothers from Joppa, set out with the messengers for Caesarea, where they arrived on the following day.24In anticipation of their arrival, Cornelius had gathered together his relatives and close friends.25When Peter entered the house Cornelius met him and fell before him in worship.26But Peter pulled him to his feet, saying: "I am only a man like yourself."Peter preaches the truth to the Gentiles27After talking briefly to Cornelius, Peter went into the room where he found a large gathering of people.28He addressed them: "You know it is against our religious law for a Jew to have anything to do with a Gentile or to set foot inside his house. However, God has made it clear to me that I should not consider as forbidden what He has stated to be acceptable.29So when I was sent for I responded, without raising any objections. I want to know why you sent for me."30Cornelius replied: "Four days ago, while I was praying here in my house at about three in the afternoon, suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me.31He told me, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayers and has taken note of your gifts to the poor.32Send to Joppa for one known as Simon Peter, who is staying in the house of Simon the leather-worker who lives by the sea.'33So immediately I sent for you and I am grateful you have come. Now we have come together in God's presence to hear all that the Lord has told you to say to us."34-35Then Peter replied: "It is clear to me now that God certainly does not show favouritism but accepts men of all nations who fear Him and do what pleases Him.36You must have heard of the revelation that God gave to His people Israel, the good news of how peace with God has been made possible through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.37You have heard of the events that took place in Judea, the series of events that began in Galilee following the baptism that John preached.38God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. Because God was with Him, He then went from place to place doing good things and healing all who had been oppressed by the devil.39-40"We apostles saw everything He did among the Jews and what happened in Jerusalem. There they killed Him by crucifying Him, but on the third day after His death God raised Him back to life and caused Him to be seen by certain witnesses whom God had specially chosen.41He was not seen by everyone, but we actually ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.42He ordered us to preach to everyone and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.43He is the same One of whom all the prophets spoke, saying that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins in His name."44The Holy Spirit fell on the whole gathering while Peter was still speaking.45The Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit should be poured out on those who were not Jewish.46This undoubtedly had happened, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.47Then Peter said: "Is there any reason why these people should not be baptised in water? For they have already received the Holy Spirit in just the same way that we did."48So he commanded that they should be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. And they asked Peter to remain with them for a few days.
Thank you Jesus, that You make us a people who know and live in Your love, proclaim Your good news, welcome the stranger, serve our neighbours and participate together in Your mission. Show us those You are reaching, and give us eyes to see, ears to hear, courage to respond and love for the people around us.