Acts Chapter 10: Verses 11-15 (NIV)
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Matthew Chapter 5: Verse 17 (NIV)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Peter had always tried to live in accordance with Jewish law, so when it seemed to him that he was being asked to break the law, he was understandably incredulous. But God reiterated His instruction and Peter got the message. Because Jesus had taught them that He had come to fulfil the law, Peter understood that some things would change. He could have justified not doing what it seemed he was being asked, but he allowed his reservations to be overcome by being obedient to God, and later in the chapter we read that because of his obedience, lives were touched and changed.
God has a plan and knows exactly what He’s doing. When He tells us what He wants us to do, it might seem a bit strange to us. We too might say, “Surely not, Lord.” But we need to follow Peter’s example and let our reservations come under God and be obedient. We may also face opposition from others who might also say, “surely not”, but if we stay close to God and allow His Spirit to move in us, He will use us and honour His word, just as He did with Peter, and if we need genuine reassurance from Him, He will be gracious to confirm His word, just as He did with Peter.
Dear Lord,
Help me to be obedient to Your word even when I don’t fully understand why. Thank You for Your grace and encouragement. Amen.