Letting Go, Letting God: Change One Heart at a Time
A short reflection on Acts 11:1–18 and Revelation 21:1–6
Sometimes the hardest part of change is not the change itself, but how we react to it. In Acts, Peter is called out for doing something unthinkable: welcoming Gentiles into the community of Jesus. His critics are not angry about bad theology – they’re unsettled by unfamiliar faces and loss of control. But Peter simply shares the story of what God did. Slowly, the others realise: this wasn’t Peter’s idea – it was God’s.
Revelation offers a vision of what this kind of Spirit-led change could look like: a whole new world where God lives with us, right here, wiping away every tear. It's not just about heaven later, but transformation now – here among the messy, diverse, real lives of people.
Both readings remind us that real change in the church comes one heart at a time. It can’t be forced. But it can be invited – through story, humility, and courage.
Letting go of control is hard. But when we make room for the Spirit, the church becomes something more beautiful than we could have planned.
God’s grace often shows up before we’re ready – we’re called to catch up, not control it.
The Spirit changes the world by changing hearts – starting with ours.
Ngā mihi
Philip
18 May 2025
p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here: https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-easter-5-18-may-2025