CALL IT WHAT GOD CALLS IT
ACTS 10:9-16
ACTS 10:9-16 NKJ
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
OBSERVATION:
I know today is Valentine's Day, but I just did not see anything that matched in this chapter. The actual Valentine's Day originated from a Roman festival welcoming spring. But if you want a biblical perspective on real love, read 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. And the great thing about the love spelled out in that short passage is that we can practice it year round.
Today we see Peter having a vision from the Lord. He saw this great sheet coming down from heaven with all kinds of animals and birds and creeping things. Evidently, there were things Jews were forbidden to eat. So, when instructed to kill and eat, Peter pushed back. He, being a good practicing Jew, had not eaten anything unclean or common.
That's when the voice came upending Peter's diet. What God has cleansed you must not call common. The word cleansed here means declared clean. What God had declared clean you must not call common or unclean. The fact that this happened three times meant God was making a point.
Later, when Peter was invited to the home of a Roman centurion, he understood what God was saying to him. No longer would the Gentiles, those without a covenant with God, be considered unclean or common. Before that time, Peter would never have entered this man's house. But God gave him a new revelation.
The blood of Jesus has taken away the sins of the world. Now all who come to Him in faith and receive Him as Savior can become children of God. Now there is no Jew or Gentile clean or unclean. No man can now be considered unworthy or common.
APPLICATION:
We can take this principle and apply it to what we call ourselves. If God says we are new creations in Christ, then that's what we are to call ourselves. If He says we are His workmanship, then we don't need to say we are unworthy or inferior. If He says we are blessed in Christ, then we certainly do not want to call ourselves cursed.
God told Peter to call it what He called it, and we are to follow that same principle.
PRAYER:
Father, whatever You say about me is what I will say. You have done a work in me through Jesus, and I am cleansed and righteous in Your sight. so that's what I will say.