ESOCS Devotional 18 August 2025 – Appreciate Goodnews
MEMORY VERSE: “And the apostle and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him.” Acts 11:1-2
TEXT: ACTS 11:1-8
Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’
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What you don’t appreciate, you can’t replicate; and what you don’t celebrate, you can’t comprehend. Appreciation is a major key for anyone who must appreciate in life and destiny. To be void of appreciation is to depreciate in life. Good news, irrespective of who the key players maybe, are meant to be celebrated and received with sense of gratitude. Unfortunately, we appear to be selective in our celebration and appreciation of good tidings when they get to us.
This was the case with the Apostles and Brethren in Judaea, when they heard of the waves Peter made in evangelizing the Gentiles, especially by their receiving the Holy Ghost. Instead of commending the giant strides of Peter and receiving these new Brethren to the fold, they rather took to contention, which was absolutely unnecessary: “…the circumcision party (certain Jewish Christians) found fault with him (separating themselves from him in a hostile spirit, opposing and disputing and contending with him)” (Acts 11:2 AMP).
These fellow ministers never gave Peter a fair hearing before contending with him. Ignorance was indeed displayed at the highest level. By the time Peter was done explaining the true picture of things, they began to glorify God (Acts 11:8). It therefore becomes glaring to note that ignorance is a major reason why we fail to appreciate good news. Poor knowledge of the source or the circumstances leading to the good tidings results in the despicable way we receive such good news.
Whether it is conversion of souls either to God or to the Church, experience of the Miraculous, Supernatural Breakthrough, Divine Healing and Deliverance, we are duty bound to receive such good news with Joy; and in doing so, it is expedient we do away with the wrong mentality garnered over the years. For the Apostles and the Brethren, the circumcision mentality was their problem.
Thus every divisive, selective and discriminatory ideology must be eroded out of the system, so that we can have a genuine heart of appreciation towards the good news when they come; and in so doing, we create a favourable platform for our own good tidings to arrive. Remember that what you don’t commend, you can’t connect
CHALLENGES
- Learn to appreciate and celebrate good news and testimonies of others.
- Always give people a fair hearing before raising any contention.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, I thank you for the move of the supernatural thus producing great testimonies.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 18:1-14; Zechariah 14:12-21; Luke 2:9-15; Romans 9:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 18 August 2025
