He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!? “No Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean! Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” Acts 10:11-15 HCSB
The Life Application Bible says, “According to Jewish law, certain foods were forbidden to be eaten (see Leviticus 11). The food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement. In fact, the Gentiles themselves were often seen as ‘unclean.’ Peter’s vision meant that he should not look upon the Gentiles as inferior people whom God would not redeem. Before having the vision, Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman officer could not accept Christ. Afterward he understood that it was his responsibility to go with the messengers into a Gentile home and tell Cornelius the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Peter had an unusual vision of animals that were considered to be “unclean” by Jewish customs, but God made it clear that those animals were “clean” and acceptable. God loves and accepts people of all races, nations, and skin color. God is all inclusive of everyone. He wants everyone to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, be saved, and enjoy new life in living for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Challenge: Do you have any prejudices? Are there people that you consider to be “unclean” with whom you do not associate? Pray that God will help you to see others through His eyes. Listen to the song “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY