Those Who Are Welcome to God
In an age where acceptance is so important to people, we might ask the question, “What kind of person will God accept? Who will be welcome to God?” In preaching to the house of Cornelius, the apostle Peter pretty much answers this question when he said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). This text points us to what does and doesn’t matter to God when it comes to whom He will accept.
What Doesn’t Matter to God
Peter starts his message to Cornelius by affirming that God does not show partiality to any person! He doesn’t discriminate! No bias or prejudice affects His treatment of people. Now, it’s quite obvious why Peter makes this point with Cornelius, a Gentile who would have been socially discriminated against by all the Jews. But the larger context (Acts 8:4 – 11:19) illustrates this point repeatedly: the Samaritans were a racially mixed people (8:5-13); the eunuch was a physically impaired person (8:26-39); and Saul was a persecutor and murderer (9:1-19)! Yet all these people were accepted by God! Listen: it doesn’t matter to God that you are racially or culturally different, or that you are physically impaired, or even that you are a social or moral outcast! God doesn’t discriminate or show partiality.
Now, if God is not prejudiced—if He does not discriminate against race, culture, class, or social group—then we ought not to be either! There is no room in the kingdom of God for racism, cultural bias, or social discrimination among us as disciples of Christ! It is critical to our efforts in spreading the gospel that we make sure all prejudices are purged from our hearts!
But the fact that race, culture, or social standing doesn’t matter to God doesn’t mean that nothing matters to God! God’s offer of salvation is to all men; the gospel is for all! But the offer of salvation is conditional! Some things do matter to God! God doesn’t discriminate: all men are welcome but on His terms! Who you are doesn’t matter, but how you respond to Him does matter! Acceptance by God requires two basic essentials: you must fear or respect God; and you must (actually) do what is right!
What Does Matter to God
God wants us to fear Him! And whether or not we do matters to God! If we want God to accept us, we must learn to fear Him! Now, this doesn’t mean that God wants us to be scared or afraid of Him. Sure, we ought to be afraid if we’re disobeying Him. But the word for “fear” here implies more than just being scared of God; being “afraid” isn’t the emphasis of this word in many places where it is used. The kind of fear God primarily wants from us (the fear that matters to Him) is fear in the sense of “reverential awe” or respect. Why? Because this is the kind of fear that will motivate the second thing that really matters to God: that we do what’s right! God knows human nature. He knows that scary threats will not sustain obedience! Being scared motivates obedience only while the threat is present. If the threat is removed or is not imminent, obedience often stops. God doesn’t want us to do what is right only because we are afraid of Him! He wants us to do what is right because we respect (reverence) Him! The only people God welcomes are those who respect Him, since these are the only ones who will also do the second thing that matters to God! God wants us to do what’s right! And again, whether we do or not matters to God! If we want God’s acceptance, we must do what is right. And what is right isn’t what we say is right. Our standards are not God’s. Only what He says is right is right (Mt. 7:21-23)!
God wants us to do what is right (obey Him) even when it’s hard…even when no one is looking (Gen. 39:8-9). The real test of obedience is when I don’t want to do what’s right (as God wills), but I do it anyway because I respect God (Mt. 26:36-39; Heb. 5:7-9). Your race, culture, or social rank doesn’t matter to God; but it does matter to God whether or not you do what isright! The only men that God will welcome are those who respect Him enough to do what is right…even when it's hard!
rcliggin@gmail.com
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Robert E. Speer
1935-2023
Robert Eugene Speer was born in Bedford, Indiana on May 16, 1935. During his childhood he lived in Bedford, Indiana and Minneapolis, Minnesota. At age 14, he was baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and remained a dedicated servant of God for the rest his life. It was in Minneapolis that he met the love of his life, Lavon Diestelkamp.
Robert graduated Washburn High School in Minneapolis in 1953 and attended Freed-Hardeman College in Tennessee and Harding College in Arkansas. Robert and Lavon were married on June 8, 1956 in Brookfield, IL, and their marriage grew and prospered for 64 years until her passing in 2020. His service as a gospel preacher took them to Muscatine, IA; Stevens Point and Ashland, WI; Bradley, IL; Nigeria, West Africa; Springfield, MO; Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Plano, IL; Noblesville, IN; Akron, OH; Palatine, IL; and Winchester, KY, where he also served as an elder in a local church. Together with Lavon, Robert was known for his devotion to the Lord and sincere service to help others, especially through his teaching of the gospel and encouragement to all around him.
The Lord blessed them with six children—four daughters and then two sons. His children honor him for his careful and loving teaching and example as he worked to guide and prepare them to follow the Lord toward the same eternal goal. His work of preaching the gospel was never limited to pulpit presentations. He continually taught by word and example at home, in active participation as teacher, counselor and director of youth camps, and in his contact with others. He was especially appreciated by young people whom he taught, counseled and encouraged.
He lived 87 years, 10 months, 10 days and died on March 26, 2023, surrounded by children and sons-in-law. In his final days, family members and others were at his side reading the Bible, praying, singing hymns and expressing their appreciation for a life well-lived. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lavon Diestelkamp Speer; his parents, Robert F. and Alice Marie (Inman) Speer; his in-laws Leslie and Alice Wright Diestelkamp; two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law. He is survived by his children, Tanja (Dan) Guyer of Winchester, KY; Reneé (Dawson) Guyer of Danville, IN; Benita (Dennis) Allan of Jarinu, Brazil; Dawn (Peter) Thompson of Madison, IN; Rob (Becky) Speer of Rockford, IL; and Kyle (Tawnie) Speer of Orange, CA; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren (including one due to be born soon); his sister, Beverly (Fred) McKinney; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Brownsburg, Indiana by Dennis Allan, Kyle Speer and Rob Speer. His grave is in Pinhook, Indiana. The family wishes to thank Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care of Robert in his final weeks. They would also like to express heartfelt thanks to Chris Bowman for her extraordinary care for Robert and the family for the past seven months.
He is greatly loved and greatly missed, but we rejoice in our firm hope that we will be reunited with him. He has run the race and finished the course. By the grace of the God he loved and served, he has won.
After opportunities to observe firsthand the good work done through Sacred Selections, Robert became an enthusiastic supporter and believer in its mission. The family requests that donations to this worthy cause be made in lieu of flowers, using this link: https://sacredselec- tions.org/robert-e-speer/
“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly,
I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward”
MATTHEW 10:42
