Then we read in verse 43 of Acts 9 that Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Christians staying in these areas of need—this is why we read of Peter staying with a tanner named Simon, someone who works with dead animals. That was considered ritually unclean by Jewish standards, and yet Peter was staying with him.
But that’s going to mean that we need to spend time with those who need to hear these things and see these things. For Peter to be staying with a tanner would have been anathema to him a few years before this, but he was staying in that man’s house. For you, you’re going to have to spend time with people who, in another life, you perhaps would never have dreamed of speaking to.
If we want Jesus to keep on displaying his gracious power through us—his Spirit-filled people—if we want the church to grow, then we need to be like Peter, staying with needy people. And not just staying with them but staying…
Some people are constantly moving from place to place, never settling. They’re travelling all over the world all the time, and though there is value in that, if you’re constantly travelling and never settle down anywhere, then you can’t be effective in the same way as Peter.
I (Rhodri) have made a point of saying in my own ministry. My plan is to stay here in Aberystwyth. Some pastors do that, and they may have good reasons for moving on, but for us, we believe that the Lord is especially effective with pastors who stay. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. We wish to stay in Aberystwyth some time in order to be effective with this work of seeing the church grow, of Jesus displaying his gracious power through us, his Spirit-filled people.
Would you stay?
