Acts 10:28 – BUT GOD HATH SHOWED ME
Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Peter had reached Cornelius’ house and Cornelius bowed down in front of Peter. Peter understood that he was just a man being used of God and thus he requested that Cornelius stand up. Peter then informed Cornelius about the vision that he had received from God. Peter had just received a vision in which God showed him that he was not to call any man common or unclean.
Peter now understood that the purpose of this vision was that God had made all of mankind and that the gift of Salvation was for all to receive and not just for the Jews. Peter did not need to wait a year and have three visions from God before he allowed God to change his mind as to what was important. Peter did not need to hold a counsel and bring in all the religious leaders around the world to determine what they thought of the vision that God had given him. Peter heard the voice of God and HE allowed that change to have an immediate effect upon his life.
Peter was a Jew and he was raised in the tradition of the Jews that the God of the Jews was not for the Gentiles. Peter was use to his traditions of segregating himself from the Gentiles. Peter may have had many traditions but he was willing to lay them all aside so that God might be glorified. Peter was willing to trust God and simply obey what he was commanded to do.
How often do we fail to follow the example of Peter in this passage? We hear the Lord speaking to us but because it is something that we do not wish to do, we start to question whether God had actually spoken to us. Rather than obey first and understand why later, we take our time contemplating what is going on and attempt to find a rational as to why we do not have to obey.
There are times when we need to be patient with God. However, once we hear HIS direction for our life, that is not the time to be patient. When we hear God speak in our life, that is not the time to allow thoughts of doubt to creep into our mind.
When God speaks to us, we need to obey. God will not always explain HIMSELF or reveal to us why HE is asking us to do what HE is showing us. However, if God tells you to give some money to a missionary, you need to obey. If God tells you to stop and pray for the needs of someone, then stop and pray. It is easy to become so focused upon yourself that you lose sight of what God desires to do through you. We will miss out on God’s greater good for our life if we constantly are refusing to listen to HIS still small voice.
Peter was confronted by God about a blind spot that he had in his life. Peter listened to the voice of God and immediately changed those areas that God desired him to change. We need to be as receptive to the things of God as Peter demonstrated here. If God tells us to change, we need to obey and let God take care of anything that might happen as a result of our needing to obey HIM and change.
Do you ever wonder why you do not hear the voice of God as often as you think you should? Maybe the reason why you do not hear the voice of God as clearly as you think you should is because there have been many occasions when God has directed you to do something and you refused to obey. When God speaks, you need to listen. Be patient and continue to seek HIS face so that you might be all that HE desires you to be.