Acts 11-12, Psalm 124
Acts 11:9-10 (NLT)
“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.”
In Acts 11:9–10, Peter described to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem what happened to him before he went to Caesarea. Peter had a vision and saw a sheet coming down from heaven. A voice from heaven urged him to kill and eat the animals that were in the sheet. Peter said no, and then the voice spoke again and told Peter not to call something unclean if God had declared it clean. Peter recounted that this happened three times before the sheet was pulled back up into heaven.
What struck me about these verses is that they are another example of how a believer must have faith and trust in the Lord to do as He asks. Peter had observed Mosaic dietary restrictions his whole life, which marked Israel as separate from other nations. When the voice from heaven commanded Peter to eat the animals, Peter said he had never eaten anything impure or unclean under Jewish law. But Peter eventually followed the Lord's guidance and went to the home of Cornelius, a Gentile. One Bible commentary I read noted that Peter's vision demonstrates for believers the importance of being open to Father-God's guidance, even when it challenges their preconceived notions or traditions.
My own testimony reminds me of what it means to follow the Lord's instructions, even when they challenge everything I thought I knew about how the world worked. When the Holy Spirit guided me to Phoenix, I thought I needed to have a job before I moved here. But the guidance I received from the Holy Spirit was to move without a job and that I would find one within six months of moving. I spent the first year trying to land a job without success. Then, the following year, I received a large bonus and decided to move without a job. And just as I believed the Holy Spirit had guided me, I received a job offer within exactly six months. Everything inside me resisted moving without a job because it didn't make any sense to me. But now, whenever I receive guidance from the Holy Spirit to do something that doesn't make sense to me, I remember this experience, and it helps me trust and follow the Holy Spirit's guidance for my life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who sent the Holy Spirit to guide us—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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