Central Truth

In separate locations, but with the same outcome in mind, God spoke to both Peter and Cornelius the centurion. Their "coming together" was more than just an opportunity for cross-cultural friendship. It was an immediate opportunity for Peter to abandon legalism and embrace his fellow man.  

Reflections

One of the most important words in storytelling is “meanwhile.” Although the NASB Bible doesn’t use the word, today’s passage is a “meanwhile” story, nonetheless.

Cornelius the centurion, a God-fearing Gentile, is a bit of a seeker. He’s what C.S. Lewis might have called “Mr. Virtue.”  He’s genuinely devout, engaging in “moral” and “religious” pursuits, but is missing a piece to his spiritual puzzle.

God sends angels to Cornelius. He’s instructed to send for Peter.

Meanwhile. . .

Peter the apostle, a respected Jew, is a big-time leader. Christ called Peter “The Rock.” He’s eaten with the Master. He’s walked with Him, learned directly from Him, and has infamously denied Him. In spite of his acknowledged weaknesses, Peter knows the law, and works tirelessly to follow it. 

Peter receives a vision. It’s a bit outlandish; it’s over the top. Okay, okay-- Peter’s hungry. But had the secret desire of his heart been to eat an alligator? Of course not! It probably disgusted him! This extreme “worst-case-scenario” food buffet was meant to shock Peter into understanding. Peter understood this vision wasn’t about the meat, but it was about mankind. In Peter’s world, it was about the cleanliness of the Gentiles.

Meanwhile. . .

Cornelius’ servants knock on Peter’s door. Peter knows to welcome them, because the Spirit has told him to do so. (He is to follow the servants of a GENTILE!)  

Peter doesn’t hesitate. Although he denied Christ three times, and needed the vision repeated three times, Peter didn’t need to be told three times to go with the servants of the Gentile.  

So, what’s the point? We might not have the Jew-Gentile battle raging today. But we do have our own culture wars. Just as Peter was a ground-breaker in the area of ministry to the Gentile community, so we need to be willing to cross cultural barriers. Peter and Cornelius remind me a little bit of the characters Ron and Dallas from the book “The Same Kind of Different as Me.” 

As we join in this spiritual journey,

Meanwhile. . .

God is preparing the heart of another.

Discussion Questions

1. We know that  we need to impact our community for Christ. If that is the case, then why is it so hard to cross economic, cultural, racial, and social barriers even within the church in order to minister to our fellow believers?
2. Peter and Cornelius had a "divine appointment." Have there been times in your life that you've experienced this?
3. Is it possible that you're in the midst of a "meanwhile" moment?  Perhaps God is preparing your heart for a relationship and ministry to an unlikely friend. How are you preparing for that opportunity? Will you run to or away from that future friend?