Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Take the time to read Acts 10.

Did you realize how crazy this story is? God is overriding the law and asking Peter to be the first one to break it.

As you read, Cornelius was a God-fearing man who served by giving to the poor and praying daily to God, but he is a Gentile, and therefore cannot join the church, so he's basically an outcast to the Jews. God sent an angel to tell him to go find Simon Peter, a Jew. Without hesitation, Cornelius sent men to bring Peter back to his house. At the same time, Peter is having a vision where he is surrounded by animals and God is telling him to eat them. Peter tells God he would never eat anything Jewish law declares unclean, and God is like, “How dare you say something I call clean to be unclean?” (paraphrased Acts 10:15). This vision played over three times. Verses 17 and 19 tell us Peter was left puzzled by his dream. Obviously, I would be too. It would be like your parents giving you a rule growing up then one day they are like, "Hey go do that thing I said not to." I would assume I was being tricked. After his vision, Peter was told to go with the men who were asking for him. Peter follows them to Cornelius’ home. I can imagine Peter is still taken aback as he says in verse 28 that Jewish law does not allow for a Jewish man to associate with a Gentile, let alone be in one’s home. At this point, God is telling him to break two rules!. As he arrived, Peter then realized what God was showing him in his vision – that nothing God has made clean is to be seen as unclean, and that includes people, too. Acts 10:34 says, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for all people – there is peace with God through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all.” Peter delivered the good news, and the Holy Spirit fell on all the Gentiles who were listening, and they were saved and then baptized (Acts 10:39- 10:43).

Acts 10 teaches us that Christ died for EVERYONE: the unclean, the sinners, the Jews, the Gentiles, and all of us.

Because of the blood of Christ, no one is excluded. By His grace, we can be made clean! “But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off (Gentiles) have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments…that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two.” (Ephesians 2:13-15)

The reminder in this chapter is that God makes all things new. But the other little piece I find among that message is that sometimes following God means going off the path you had in mind. Peter was asked to blaze a trail that was seen as completely wrong at the time, but God had a plan to use Peter, and he followed without hesitation, as did Cornelius. I can't say the same about myself. How many times do we feel called to something but it doesn't sound right or fit the plan we had in mind? I hope this passage is a reminder for us to draw closer to God in the confusion and chaos. Your path has been laid out for God to use for His glory. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’"

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• What plans do you need to surrender to God?
• Take time to draw near to God today. Give Him whatever you’ve been holding back!

Family Application: Acts 10

By: Nichole McCardle

Read Acts chapter 10. It’s packed full of details, but it tells a really great story that we all need to be reminded of: the message of the gospel is for ALL people. Peter was a Jewish man. Jews believed in order to be eligible for all of God’s blessings, people had to follow certain Jewish rules. Through prayer and a vision, God made it clear to Peter that it is His will that the gospel is not only for Jews who follow rules but for everyone. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He created new rules. Peter followed God’s instruction that was revealed through a vision, and he shared the gospel with Cornelius and his family. Cornelius and his family were amazed at what Peter told them, and they all chose to follow Jesus! Peter and Cornelius teach us that God shows no partiality. God loves all people no matter who they are, what they look alike, what they have done, or where they are from. Galatians 3:28 tells us, “There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

God calls us all to love. It is our job to demonstrate true love to all people, even those who may look different than us, act differently from us, or even believe different things than us. We do not always have to agree on everything, but we are called to show God’s love to everyone, even those who we disagree with. God made everyone, and as followers of him, we are called to value each other.

• Who can you show God’s love to today?
• Prayer: God, I love You! Thank You for creating so many different people, all in Your image! Help me to share Your love with everyone around me. Amen.