A Wider Vision
After Pentecost, Peter's life was transformed, and he became a mighty pillar of the church. But there still was more for him to learn. Like the other apostles, Peter still saw his mission as exclusively to the Jews.
Read Acts 1:8. What was Jesus saying that should have helped Peter and others understand that things were not going to be quite what they expected, at least in terms of mission?
In Acts 10:1-14, Peter was given a vision in which he was told to eat unclean foods. As a Jew, he was astounded at what was told him. " 'Surely not, Lord!' " Peter replied.
" 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean' " (Acts 10:14, NIV). It would be the same as a Seventh-day Adventist being told in vision to smoke a cigarette and drink from a bottle of alcohol.
Of course, God was not literally telling Peter to eat unclean foods—just as He would not ask us to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol. Peter's vision was a parable. At first he wondered about the meaning (vs. 17), but soon it became apparent as he was invited to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile.
Read Acts 10:28-43. What was the real meaning of the vision? What did Peter now understand that he did not before?
For us today, it is obvious that the gospel was a message for the whole world, but it must have been quite a surprise for someone like Peter, coming out of the background that he did. How important that, whatever our position in the church, we not let our cultural prejudices put blinders on us. How important that, as with Peter, we get a wider vision of the mission of our church. What are some personal or cultural blinders that you have had to deal with? Or, perhaps, that many in your church still do? How can you get a wider vision?
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