Acts 10:9-33 (NLT)

Jacob DeShazer flew on an American bomber to drop bombs over Japan. But his plane and crew did not make it out of Japan. Captured and imprisoned, he developed a deep hatred toward the Japanese. Then one day he was given some time with the Bible. God captured his heart. But what effect would that have on his relationship with his enemies, captors and torturers?

For Peter going to Cornelius and his family meant going to a Roman soldier representing the power of the Empire. Already, Jews did not associate with Gentiles, or non-Jews, because they were not God’s chosen people of Israel. Additionally, because they did not follow Jewish ceremonial laws of cleanliness, as given by Moses, Gentiles were considered to be unclean, just like the unclean animals that God prohibited the Israelites to eat. Peter, a faithful Jew, held fast to his convictions as a Jew and to his distaste for the Romans. But through the vision of the picnic blanket of animals, God pushes Peter to face his convictions. Were they of God, or were they a set of rules that man had misapplied? Were they borne out of personal history or enmity?

As Peter contemplates the meaning of the vision, God allows those representatives of all that the Jews considered unclean to arrive. God tells Peter to go and to go “without hesitation” (v. 20), for He had sent them. The visitors encouraged Peter by citing Cornelius’ relationship to the Jews and their God. So Peter lays aside his previous convictions and goes with them to Caesarea. His words in verses 28 and 29 show that he got the message: lay aside his old feelings about things and find out what God is really doing.

But letting go of our rules and rituals can be unnerving. God provides just enough for us to let go of any wrong teachings or practices and to focus on faith in Him. He neither tells Cornelius nor Peter about what the end of the story will be; they are simply to trust Him without hesitation. There are many hesitations we have about following God—some of them personal convictions or emotional reactions to things. Maybe you limit your understanding of God’s vision to one ethnic group or your own peer or church group, when God is calling you to share with the one who is outside your clique. Perhaps you thought you were following God but instead it was simply your own feelings.

God leads us to show us His glory. Jacob DeShazer returned to Japan to share the Gospel. God showed him a vision without false limits, a vision found in his faith in God and guided by God’s grace.

Reflection:
What is your comfort zone? Is it biblical and God-honoring? God calls us out of our comfort zones to rely on Him instead of man-made limits. Let God guide you out of what is comfortable to be free to love others.

*This devotional first appeared in Encounter Monthly Journal, July 2006