Hungry and a Rude RSVP

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9–10, ESV)

It is hard to grasp the glorious scenes that await us in the final kingdom. We will stand before the Lord’s throne, surrounded by people from every nation, tribe, people, and language, from every period of history and every geographic location on the globe.

We will stand in perfect unity, all our divisions gone, any previous differences now unable to separate us. We will not think about our differences because our hearts will be consumed with worship and our mouths filled with endless praise. We will all stand unworthy of what we received, because God’s grace is the ultimate unifier.

Our eyes will not be on one another, but on the majestic One who sits on the throne. And we will sing songs of his glory and of his faithful delivery of every promise of grace and victory.

We will worship with those who came before us and those who came after us, all together grateful to be chosen to be part of this eternal celebration of the conquering King, the Savior, the final Lamb of sacrifice. With hearts at rest, we will know for certain that we are finally home.

A particular scene in Acts foreshadows this final glory for us. It’s a watershed moment in the young church, as the gospel breaks out of its Jewish origins and spreads in a very distinct way to the Gentile world. The full story is documented in Acts 10.

It begins when God appears to Cornelius in a vision and tells him to send for Peter (1–8). As the story progresses, Peter then receives his famous (and humorous) vision. Up on the roof, hungry and waiting for a meal to be made, he falls into a trance and sees a great sheet filled with all kinds of animals (9–16). It’s a very appropriate vision for a man whose empty stomach is rumbling!

The story concludes with Peter preaching the gospel to Cornelius and his household and all who are gathered to hear the Good News. He arrives and greets the host with, “Hey, I shouldn’t be here” (how’s that for an RSVP!), but proceeds to explain, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (34–35).

I love what happens in the middle of Peter’s gospel sermon: “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles” (44–45).

There was no prejudicial pause from the Lord! Before Peter even completed his message, the Spirit fell on his hearers. Jews and Gentiles stand before the Lord equally unworthy of his favor but accepted by his grace.

God made it clear that, as prophesied in the Old Testament, his redeeming grace flows beyond the believing Jews. The covenant promise to Abraham was that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1–3 and 22:18). Jesus is the seed of Abraham, and all who believe in him inherit the promises made to Abraham.

Let these wonderful words ring in your ears and in your heart: “God shows no partiality.” May that be true of us as well. If God showed partiality, none of us would be in his family or have a guaranteed place in his final kingdom. May we never let prejudice or partiality of any kind stand in the way of our ministry of the gospel of forgiving, accepting, and reconciling grace.

Peter was a bit confused and hesitant, but he was obedient, and God used him in a powerful way to bring the gospel to Cornelius, his household, and many more.

There is no ethnic, national, cultural, linguistic, racial, or geographical limit to the spread and reception of the good news of Jesus Christ. No one has a special “in” with God. We are his only by grace, and grace alone.

Show no partiality. Obey the Lord. Go where he leads you, even if it’s uncomfortable. Be bold. Spread the good news.

And watch what God might do!

God Bless,
Paul Tripp

A Prayer for Today: God, I’m so grateful to be someone accepted by your grace. Thank you for receiving me as your child, though I don’t deserve your forgiveness, acceptance, and love. Thank you for showing no partiality, and for making me a direct beneficiary of it. Would you please help me be the kind of person who extends the same grace to others? I want to show no partiality in my assessment of others, and I need your grace to transform my heart in this area. May I go where you lead me and speak boldly of your impartial love and grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Conversation Prompts for Children

• What do you think it means to show favoritism? What are some ways people show favoritism? How have you shown favoritism before? In what ways have you seen me show favoritism?
• What do you think it means that God doesn’t show favoritism? Why do you think that’s a good thing?
• How do you think Christians might mistakenly show favoritism when they share Jesus with others?
• Who do you think God wants us to share Jesus with?

Reflection Questions

1. Why would it be bad news if God showed partiality in deciding who could be accepted as his children? How does God’s lack of favoritism directly benefit you?

2. In what ways do you tend to show partiality in who you talk to about the gospel? How do you think God might want you to change in this specific area?

3. When it comes to sharing your faith, where might God be calling you to go (next door, within your family, to the unreached, etc.) to be obedient to him? Why is the good news of the gospel for everyone? Why is the good news always worth sharing with someone?

4. What is currently standing in the way of your sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with other people God is calling you to share it with? What steps can you take to eliminate those obstacles?

4. Take some time to pray and ask God for the power to be bold about your faith, even if you are terrified to open your mouth to talk about Jesus. Ask him to empower you, give you the right words and posture, and help your heart to live with compassion for the lost.