The "least of these" (part 2)

Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision. He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners. It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
 "No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.--Acts 10:9-16



Peter had a vision-- a very scary vision-- All the things that the Lord was asking him to digest, was completely against everything that he believed...The Lord was stretching him and opening his mind to something new, and Peter was VERY reluctant. He tried to be super spiritual and say just the right thing, but the Lord said, "DO NOT say that what God has made clean is not pure"

In Acts 10 Peter came to the realization that Jesus never showed favorites; He was the original and radical... Equal Rights Activist! The Jews considered the Gentiles unclean, undeserving and well "the least of these" (Matt 25:40) of all humanity. But Jesus showed Peter differently through a life-changing...revolutionary vision...

Jesus radically changed Peter from a religious bigot to an all inclusive Christian (Christ like)... Now remember that it had been pounded into Peter's head that to even associate with the Gentiles would cause him to be unclean...the stigma that was attached to "these people" would effect his life in such a way that  his social status would forever be damaged... But Jesus showed him the error of his ways!

Unfortunately, we Christians tend to be very exclusive because of our strong beliefs. We have a tendency to reject people because of what we believe makes them "unclean" and unacceptable... Jesus on the other hand clearly says, "What I have made clean--I have made clean, and your opinion doesn't void the power of My blood and My perfecting--unconditional love."

Who are we to say someone is "unclean" or unacceptable or even abominable... When Christ lives on the inside of a person, they are saved--regardless of our opinion! If Jesus saved someone, He saved them completly--forever--He doesn't take that back.


I believe that God is trying to show the church something--BUT you cannot have a life changing vision if you won't open your eyes--

We are called to love people--ALL people

 Jesus NEVER excluded anyone..not even Judas--He called him friend

Just Bb