THURSDAY

Acts 10:1–23

“Well, I didn’t see that coming!” Ever found yourself saying that? When something happens that results in us having to let go of old ways of doing things and having to adapt or change in new ways, it can be quite challenging! Even if the change we are being invited to embrace is for the better, we can still feel a bit off-balance, or perhaps even resistant at times.

Peter had, along with the other disciples, already been through this when, in the wake of the death and resurrection of Jesus, they had to change and rethink so much of what they thought about the Messiah as they saw God work in wonderful and completely unexpected ways. Today’s passage was yet another moment when Peter had to pause and rethink what he believed in response to how God was leading, and challenging who and what Peter considered to be “unclean” or out of bounds.

Take a few moments to read through today’s passage about what Peter experienced on his roof as he prayed, and what he was invited to experience as a result.

• What are some of the ways in our culture in which people are treated as though they are “unclean” in some way?

• Why was Peter so resistant to God’s instructions? What can we learn from this? What questions does it raise that may need to be explored further?

• How open are we to considering that even sincerely held convictions may sometimes need to be reexamined in the light of God’s leading?

• What do you think about both the way Peter responded to the vision and the way he responded to those he found knocking at his door immediately afterwards?

• What can we learn from what Peter learned?

Take a few moments to talk with God in prayer about what you are hearing in this passage.