Acts 11:1-18

In these verses, the circumcised believers did not act Christian. They were prejudiced and judgmental. They were quick to find fault and to criticize. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, they let him know that they disapproved of his behavior. Looking at them at that exact point in time and examining their thinking and their behavior, we have no reason to believe they are righteous. God does not show favoritism, but they did. Christ loves everyone, and they did not.

The world judges people by where they are. Fortunately, we do not have to be like the world. God wants us to see other Christians not only where they are at, but also to see where they have come from. The circumcised Christians came from a point of self-deception. Their religious leaders taught them that the Jews were God’s chosen people and therefore they were better than everyone else was. They thought their works made them righteous. When they met Jesus, they discovered that righteousness was a gift. They had believed Christ was the messiah, and Christ had given them the Holy Spirit. They were no longer trusting in their own works for salvation.

God wants us to see the direction Christians are heading. When we look at where the circumcised believers came from, it is easy to see that they were closer to the likeness of Christ than they once were. However, even that is not good enough. The circumcised Christians were not very far along on their journey with Christ, but they were moving forward. They were still learning how to think and act like Christ. After Peter told them about God’s work among the gentiles, they gave up their objections and praised the Lord. Their minds were changed, and they became more like Christ.

Being a Christian is not about any one moment in time, it is about a journey; a journey from where we were to where we need to be. The journey continues as long as we follow where Christ leads.