Acts 10

How often do you find yourself treating others a certain way because traditions cause you to interpret rules and laws a certain way? Since you know that you are right, you don’t even think twice about your actions. “It’s no big deal,” you say. I’m sure Peter felt this same way. He was convinced that the law was meant to keep him from associating with Gentiles. He was convinced that God would never pour out His spirit on them. He was convinced that he was right.

I wonder how many Gentiles crossed Peter’s path before the events in this passage. How many of them did Peter completely ignore because they were unclean? How many did he walk right past and not even notice because God didn’t want him to see them? And if Peter was like me at all, I’m sure that on the trip to Caesarea he started questioning himself about these same things. The realization that he had been mistaken for most of his life was probably hard on him, and I imagine that he was probably still a little uneasy about going to visit a Gentile. Sure, he knew that God wanted him to go, but he’d never done it before. It would be like putting metal in a microwave.

Did you know that they make microwave ovens now that you can put metal in? I’ve only seen them in the last few years, but I’ve still never put any metal inside one. All of my life, I’ve known that metal and microwaves are a bad combination, but they say that the technology has changed. Apparently, you still can’t put things in that have sharp edges, but a plate covered with smooth tinfoil would be okay. Personally, I remember when I accidentally put a fork in the microwave as a kid, and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Intellectually, I know that it will work, but my habits and memory just can’t be overridden.

Peter had to override his habits and memories from a lifetime of laws and traditions, and it was hard. Even though God told him to do it, it was hard. Even though the message he received on the rooftop: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean,” was extremely clear, it was hard. I’m not sure I could have moved so quickly. I usually need a day or two to process, but Peter only had a few minutes between the vision and the arrival of Cornelius’ men. He had to move quickly on what God told him without questioning or pondering.

What things are you holding onto that are hindering your ability to spread the Gospel? Could those things be like Peter’s idea of clean and unclean? Is God asking you to quit pondering and just set them aside to further His kingdom?