Who Can Stand In God's Way?

[S] Acts 11:17-18 --

 ¹⁷"Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
 ¹⁸When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."

[O] Peter had just returned from Caesarea where Cornelius and other Gentiles experienced the Holy Spirit being poured out (Acts 10:45) and was trying to explain the situation to the Jews back in Jerusalem about how God had prepared him to preach to the Gentiles through the vision and how He had also led Cornelius through a different vision to prepare to invite Peter to hear God's message for them.  In this passage Peter makes a strong point of when God is on the move how would anyone stand in the way.  We are not trying to lead God but He is leading us.  This needs to be made clear as I live my life as well as doing the ministries at my church.  Even though the Jews at first were skeptical, after hearing the news of how God was so evident they also aligned themselves to the grace of God reaching to the Gentiles also leading them to life.  When I align myself to the workings of God, I can achieve things that are outside my comfort zone as well as my own limitations.

[A] Whenever I'm up against steep challenges, look for signs of God's working and align my thinking and life to it because that'll point to the way out.

[P] Dear God, who am I that I could stand in Your way?  My fear and lack of faith is trying to get in Your way of leading the small group ministry at my church.  Continue to equip me with Your strength to carry out my role such that I would experience the uplifting power as Peter and the Jews experienced in seeing how You reached out to the Gentiles also.  May You surprise me in a sweet way.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.