Experience: S2 - Day 17

The risk of stepping out of your comfort zones

Acts 10:17b Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

As I read this story a few times before writing, I kept being drawn to one statement. When Cornelius’ men arrive at Peter’s house, the Holy Spirit tells Peter, “Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation” (v 20). This was the Spirit helping Peter connect the dots between his vision and what was about to happen.

Peter eludes to this later in the story when he tells them, men, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” (v 28). You see, Jews and Gentiles didn’t cross those cultural boundaries, especially into one another’s homes.  The Holy Spirit wanted Peter not only to go with the men but also not to hesitate.  Hesitating may have immediately put up a wall between the men and Peter because that’s what they would have expected from a Jew: to be treated as less than human.  So when Peter goes willingly, immediately, their hearts remain open for the Spirit to continue to work.

This is important in our work with others, especially as we step out of our comfort zones.  As Peter realized, no one is impure or unclean, even those different from him, and as he says in the next verse for tomorrow, God shows no favoritism.

If you know Peter’s story, you know he didn’t always get this right. There was a time when he acted differently around the Gentiles than he did around the Jews, but God was working on his heart to show him how special all people are to him. It took some time.

As we’ll find as we read the rest of the New Testament, as the Gentile Christian population grew, the Jews got more and more jealous, and they feared that their unique identity would get lost.  As a result, some chose to persecute the Gentile Christians instead of embracing them as fellow children of God.  Why?  Because growing is hard, stepping out of our comfort zones is hard.  In both, we risk change, but in the kingdom of God, it’s the kind of change that helps shape and mold us into the people God needs us to be.

One last note from today’s reading that I think is important to remember.  When Peter entered Cornelius’ home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshipped him.  One can understand why.  Peter had walked with Jesus, performed miracles, and received the Holy Spirit.  Peter could have received this honorable act, but he knew his place.  He knew that Jesus made him special, and we all have access to Jesus.

So let us never forget the source of the good that lives in us. Jesus is always worshipped in our praise, and though we can receive a compliment from someone who thinks we did a good job representing him, may we also remember the source of our power—Jesus in us, Jesus through us, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Amen!

Questions:

1. For Peter, Cornelius may have seemed like an unlikely source for God to speak to and through. Has God ever spoken to you through an unlikely source?  Explain.
2. How important do you think common hospitality is in keeping the door open to share Christ with someone?
3. What helps you remember the source of your joy, your hope, your peace, and your power?