Monday Morning Faith is a weekly blog series that recaps Sunday sermons, offering spiritual insights and practical takeaways. Each post encourages readers to live out their faith through actionable steps and everyday applications.
In a world filled with division, tension, and boundaries, it can feel natural to separate ourselves from those we see as different. We often draw invisible lines—cultural, social, political—and subconsciously decide who we think is deserving of God's love. But as we see in Acts 10, Jesus doesn’t operate within our boundaries. He is a Savior for everyone—for every nation, every culture, every walk of life.
He is always making room for someone at the table.
Room for us, room for our friends, room for those we don’t get along with; in the life of Jesus there is more than enough space for a life of HOPE.
A Savior for Everyone
Billy Graham once said, "Christ belongs to all people. He belongs to the whole world. His love is sufficient for everyone."
Jesus didn’t come to establish an exclusive club; He came to open the doors of salvation to anyone who would believe.
Acts 10 gives us a vivid example of this. The chapter begins with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, a man respected but considered a "Gentile" by the Jewish community. Yet, God chooses Cornelius to be a vital part of His unfolding plan to spread the gospel to all nations. Cornelius has a vision from God, and God instructs him to send for Peter.
Meanwhile, Peter is given his own vision—a dramatic, confusing image of animals being lowered from heaven, accompanied by God’s voice telling Peter to “rise, kill, and eat.” Peter hesitates, knowing that the animals are considered unclean under Jewish law, but God tells him, "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean."
What was happening? God was shattering Peter's preconceptions. This wasn’t just about food. God was showing Peter that His love was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.
Breaking Down Walls
Peter's response to Cornelius' invitation to visit his home is pivotal. Jewish law would have made it unthinkable for Peter to enter the home of a Gentile, yet Peter obeys God’s call. When he steps into Cornelius’ house, Peter says something profound: “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home... But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean” (Acts 10:28).
This moment changes everything. God was revealing to Peter—and to us—that Jesus came for all people. It didn’t matter what background, nationality, or prior beliefs Cornelius had; the gospel was now breaking through barriers that had existed for centuries.
And here’s where we need to check our hearts: how often do we, intentionally or not, draw lines between who we think is "worthy" of hearing the gospel?
Whether it's because of political differences, cultural backgrounds, or personal biases, we can fall into the trap of acting like gatekeepers of God’s grace. But Acts 10 reminds us: Jesus is for all, and we don’t get to pick and choose who is worthy of His love.
A Call to Be All In
If Jesus is for all, then we must respond by being all in. We are called to carry the message of His love beyond our comfortable circles and into the lives of those who feel left out, broken, or even antagonistic toward God.
In John 10:16, Jesus refers to "other sheep that are not of this fold," hinting at the Gentiles and the nations that were about to be welcomed into God’s family.
When we accept Jesus as Lord, we also take up the responsibility to share that invitation with others. This is not a burden, but an incredible opportunity!
Being "all in" doesn’t just mean personal devotion; it means living out the gospel in every relationship, every interaction, and every opportunity. It means showing love to those who are overlooked, forgotten, or marginalized.
Jesus Draws All People to Himself
As Peter preaches the gospel in Cornelius’ home, something incredible happens: "The Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message" (Acts 10:44). This wasn’t just for the Jews—this was for everyone in the room. Peter recognizes that the same Holy Spirit given to the Jewish believers had now been given to these Gentiles.
Jesus Himself said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32). The cross pulls everyone to a decision.
Jesus was all about drawing people from every background, every nation, and every walk of life to the saving grace of Jesus.
Who Are You Inviting?
We have a choice today.
Are we willing to let go of our biases, our judgments, and our self-righteousness, and be all in for a Jesus who is for all? The gospel is an open invitation to the grandest celebration of all time—eternity with Jesus. So why are we holding back?
Think of it like a party reservation that keeps growing.
One time I went out with a group for dinner, and our reservation doubled unexpectedly. I was nervous they wouldn’t have space, but the restaurant was more than happy to accommodate us. Jesus is like that—there’s always room at His table.
So, who are you inviting? Is there someone in your life who needs to know that the invitation to God's love is for them too?
Take a step this week.
Reach out to someone who feels excluded or distant, and invite them into the grace and love of Jesus. You never know how your invitation might change their life—and yours.
Let’s be a people who are all in for a Jesus who is for all.
Think about someone in your life who might feel left out or far from God, and consider how you can share Christ’s love with them this week.
Man I love that party reservation analogy!