I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV84)

I love the movement and transformation captured in this Psalm: God found us in the pit, rescued us from the pit, gave us a firm place to stand, and taught us a song of praise. Now we are a witness to his grace, mercy, and kindness, so that others “put their trust in the Lord.”

Lord, help me be a faithful witness to your grace. 

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” (Acts 11:1-3 ESV)

During my Bible reading this morning I was in Acts 11, the chapter immediately after Peter baptizes Cornelius and the other Gentiles.  Once word spread about this, the circumcision party jumped all over Peter, saying that Peter was out of line. They were criticizing Peter for how he went about his ministry. In response, Peter calmly explains the entire story, concluding with “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (v. 17).

I love what happens next: the circumcision group rejoices with Peter! “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (v. 18). They “fell silent” in their objections, not because of Peter’s eloquent defense or slick discipleship model, but because they saw that it was a movement of God. And, when they recognized God moving, they rejoiced in it!

I pray that I would be sensitive to God’s movement, that I would not stand opposed to it, and that I would rejoice in it – even if it is not the way I would have done things.