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American economic opportunities and open doors attract ethnic groups from all over the world—more than 1 million arrive each year. While most come for political freedom and economic opportunities, their arrival gives followers of Christ golden opportunities to introduce them to Jesus Christ. If only God’s people recognized God’s sovereign purpose in permitting this to happen, they would reach out in love and compassion to accept newcomers and introduce them to the Christian faith. Using a vision of animals let down in a sheet along with a visit to the home of a Gentile, God taught Peter a vital lesson about inclusion. In the house of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles in the same way He came upon Jews. Peter then realized that God accepted non Jews just as He accepted Jews. In defending this new insight about God’s attitude toward people, Peter said, “Since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” Today, God’s people are called to reflect God’s agenda. Our Lord is not erecting walls, He is breaking down barriers.
