Life Learning Series

One blood: in the modern day, the acceptance of this, as being a true definition for mankind, is not a common practice. One of the more common things to do is, to push against that perception, as being too limiting. Chief among the ways of pushing against that principle is, to define groups of people by using constraining titles: Arabs, Israelis, Palestinians, and so on. When we do this, we can, somehow, defy the fact of biology itself. In the extreme, when we do that, we can say that; these others are not worthy of life, at all. This kind of thinking brings sorrow to the heart of the servant of the LORD. An example of that type of sorrow is seen in the latter part of a certain event of the life of Elisha, the prophet. To give this context; here is the initial part of the event.

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

 (2 Kings 8:7-9)

And, here is the latter part; which illustrates the sorrow of, understanding that there are people for whom, certain others’ lives are deemed as being a thing to discard.

. . .

– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Thirty-seven –

The apostle Peter was ordained as the first engine of the push for salvation of the world (however, he is not the only engine, nor is he the energy of the push). As in unity with others of his day, Peter stood at the core of the Christian faith. In the following recap of an early event of the life of the church of Christ, we see the central role that Peter fulfilled.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

(Acts 2:38-47)

The task that was set before the apostles is this: to prepare more educated sheep as to the core of worship of the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter, as being one of the called apostles, needed to have a strong personal presence. In his place, as being, formerly, subjected to the practices of the temple; some of the direction of the newly acquired election to push Israel to the Gospel, would overrule things that he had been brought up to believe. Among the things that Peter had been taught is that; he needed to avoid potential violation of the law of Moses, as is described in this Scripture.

. . .

– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Thirty-six –