DON’T CONTRADICT GOD
By Erwin Bourne—March 21, 2002
Man likes to defend his prejudices. Even the
sanctified heart has this weakness. Peter had been in
the upper room when the Holy Ghost was initially
outpoured on the one hundred and twenty. But now we
see Peter shielding his Judaic, deep-seated judgments
with God—no less. At this moment, two trusted
servants and a devout soldier sent by Cornelius to
Joppa were knocking at Peter’s door. Peter went with
them to see Cornelius.
Very shortly thereafter, Peter was called on the
carpet to explain his erratic behavior. He had been
on the housetop in the pious position of prayer.
Something like a great sheet was let down from the
sky. It was filled with all sorts of animals,
reptiles and birds that the Jew was not allowed to
eat. But a voice said, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat
them.” “Never Lord,” I replied. “I have never eaten
anything forbidden by our Jewish laws.” But the voice
came again from heaven, “If God says something is
acceptable, don’t say it isn’t” Religious prejudice
is hard to change.
“GOD DOESN’T SHOW PARTIALITY,
BUT IN EVERY NATION HE ACCEPTS THOSE WHO FEAR
HIM AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT” (Acts 10:34, 35 NLT)
The GOOD NEWS was preached to the Gentiles (the
heathen) at the house of Cornelius; but the scandalous
news—read Acts 11:1-3 about Peter (You entered the
house of Gentiles and even ate with them!). Peter
preached to the Apostles and other believers: “If God
says something is acceptable, don’t say it isn’t.”
When they heard this, their objections were answered.
They praised God saying, “God has also given the
Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and
receiving eternal life,”
The early Apostolic Church had a struggle with
Judaism all through the Acts of the Apostles. They
refused to look over the wall of their prejudice.
Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly to the Jews (Acts 13:47
NLT): This is what the Lord commanded: “I have made
you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the
farthest corners of the earth.”
—Erwin and Jean Bourne