God spoke, they listened, and the result was a change for the ages

By Dean Collins

It was never about bacon-wrapped shrimp, even though that might be enticing to some. Two men had a vision from God. They were miles apart. If my Google search is accurate, these two visions happened with about 40 miles of separation. But the distance between Cornelius and Peter was not simply geographical. And it wasn’t just their cultural diets either. The separation included biases, politics, power, preferences, race, and employment. But God was at work in both men simultaneously.

It makes you wonder who else God might be working on while he is working on you and me. I suspect you would agree that we all need a little help from someone to move us toward becoming who God has designed us to be. Saints and sinners each have work to do while we walk on this planet together, waiting for a better day and a better way. And even saints and saints can be on very different pages than God is writing.

God met them where they were

God met Cornelius and Peter where they were in their understanding of him. One was a Roman citizen employed and trained by the Roman government as a centurion. He was to keep the peace the Roman way. Uniforms and weapons were a part of his daily attire. And while he was armed and had the power of Rome behind him, the Spirit of God was working on him. Luke described Cornelius as a devout man who feared God, lead his family to do the same, gave his money generously to people, and prayed all the time.

Peter was a professional fisherman God had called to fish for men. And while Peter was now center stage in the expansion of the church, he was naive in his full understanding of what God was doing and how this gospel was for everyone and not just for the local and faithful Jews. God knew Peter’s blind spots, but chose to use him, confident in Peter’s willingness to follow Jesus all the way and wherever the Holy Spirit directed.

Each man had a vision, and neither knew exactly what God was about to do with them and through them. But this encounter with each other by the work of the Holy Spirit would change them, broaden their understanding of diversity, and reveal that God wants to include everyone in his Kingdom. Wherever God reigns, barriers fall.

Common ground, changed hearts

The day Cornelius and Peter met, a lot of foggy theology was suddenly made clear.

1) No one is worthy of worship. We bow only to the Father in Heaven. And we stand on common ground. (Acts 10:25-27).
2) God calls us to see each other the way he sees us (10:28).
3) When God breaks down the barrier, then we are to walk toward each other (10:29).
4) When we come together from different cultures and understanding, then we are to listen first (10:29-30).
5) Listening to God precedes listening to each other. Then we listen to each other to understand what God is saying and doing (10:30-43).
6) When the Holy Spirit moves, then we follow his lead. What God ordains we accept and follow (10:44-48).

There were immediate results and changed hearts the day Cornelius and Peter found common ground in Jesus. It would be a process to get all the believers on the same page. And the same page didn’t mean everyone had to look alike or even always behave the same. They still had their unique heritage. But now there was common faith and common ground. The will of God was starting to happen on earth as it is in Heaven that day in Caesarea.

Moving to the extraordinary

Unfortunately, in every century we have stumbled and retreated to our biases and prejudices. And in every century God still calls us, and the Holy Spirit still moves to break down the barriers that divide God’s children both here and throughout the world. We can either stay stuck arguing about things like food and beverage or we can move beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary and powerful work of God.

Whether we are willing or not, God will advance his Kingdom. The sacrifice of God’s only Son on the cross of Calvary is for everyone and for all time. The only thing we have to decide is whether we will follow God’s ways or stay stuck in our own.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:1-2‬, 25-48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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This post originally appeared April 28, 2021.
Photos by Gustavo Sánchez and Milan Popovic on Unsplash