Daily Devotional: What God Has Made Clean

Hey wonderful friends! Glad to have you back! Today, we're exploring our daily devotional and sharing a brief, uplifting thought to add a little sparkle to your day. If you have a moment, take a look at Acts 10 in your preferred Bible version before continuing here. For a quicker read, focus on the key points below and see what resonates with you:

"At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven".

Following Jesus's death and resurrection, his followers were left to navigate the path forward. The disciples emerged as the leaders of the early Church, but, as with any movement, questions about practices, inclusion, and organisation soon arose. Initially, their focus was on other Jews, but the book of Acts shows this focus evolving. For instance, just two chapters earlier, Philip baptizss an Ethiopian eunuch, and now Peter receives a vision about the nature of clean and unclean.

The vision Peter experiences is repeated three times, echoing the three denials he made of Jesus and the three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. This repetition profoundly affects Peter. Initially, he views the vision as a test, resolute not to fail. Yet, the Spirit persists, urging him not to deem anything unclean that God has declared clean. Just then, messengers from a Gentile’s home arrive, asking Peter to visit them.

Peter’s response is commendable. He not only goes to the Gentile’s home but also preaches, baptizes the household, dines with them, and stays overnight. This action significantly broadens the scope of inclusion.

Sometimes, people reject what they don’t understand or what they believe to be against God’s will. However, if we pause and listen deeply, the Spirit often challenges us to expand our welcome and reconsider what we deem unclean.

Reflection Questions:
What lessons can you draw from Peter’s shift in perspective?
Have you ever been firmly convinced of something only to have your viewpoint challenged? How did you handle that shift?
Are there groups that the church still regards as “unclean”?

Practical Exercises:
Seek out a group, not necessarily LGBTQ+, that advocates for inclusion within the church and explore ways to support them.
Identify a group you find challenging or don't fully understand. Read personal stories from individuals in that group.
Research strategies for engaging in constructive conversations with those who disagree with you. Make a list of helpful tactics and practice incorporating them into your discussions.

That concludes today’s devotional! I hope this message has brightened your day. If you found it meaningful, please consider sharing it to spread the positivity. Thank you for joining us today—remember to celebrate your uniqueness! Stay well and keep a positive mindset until we meet again.

Footnotes:

Source: Kearns, S., & Murphy, B. (2020). "Queers the Word" - (Adapted for reflection of Peter and Cornelius, Gentiles Hear the Good News and Gentiles Hear the Good News). Scripture: Acts 10: 9-16

Image Title: "Peter’s Vision of Inclusion" Source: Midjourney’s image generation model.

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