Get Real November 23 Devotional
November 23, 2024
ACTS 11:1-10| 1Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.
God challenged Jewish separatist attitudes which resided in the minds and hearts of Jesus’ disciples. He did so in several dramatic ways. There was a revelatory challenge. Peter dreamt of a feast given by God full of unclean food, forbidden by Torah regulation, and heard a heavenly voice declare it “clean.”
The central leader of the early church was directly shown that Jewish eating practices were not necessary and table fellowship must open with Gentiles. He then met Gentiles who had been sent by God and saw them come to faith and experience God’s Spirit.
Has God ever revealed something directly to you?
What boundaries separate you from others?
