Day 58: God changes Peter’s mindset

Today’s Big Idea: Because I’ve always done it that way…

Key Verse: Acts 10:15

Passage of the day: Acts 10:9-16

Thoughts to consider: Before God does something big, He tells His people about it. That was certainly the case in the story of Cornelius and Peter. If we’re constantly surprised, angry, or resistant when God does something new, we are not listening! In today’s key verse, God changes the mindset of Peter. During regular prayer time (which is another devotion altogether), Peter was given a vision. Three times, a sheet came down in front of him filled with animals that Jews knew were unclean. But each time, a voice said “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Surely this was a temptation from the devil. God wouldn’t tell me to do something against my custom or tradition. So Peter refused the command.

Just like Peter, church folks have a way of functioning. And, also like them, we’ve been taught that keeping close to those traditions is one of the ways we honor God. But when new people come to faith in Christ, then show up at church, some of those traditions are challenged. Are we willing to accept changes when God brings them, and from whom He uses to bring them? Or are we going to keep calling things unclean that God calls clean? Consider that today. But don’t worry. Making God-ordained changes doesn’t lead to losing the essentials that should never change. God just wants us to know of multiple ways HOW to get things done. Before we are done this week, we will see that very clearly from Peter’s story.