Called to Go

Beloved friend,

Sometimes God has to give us the same vision three times before we understand that He's serious about expanding our hearts. Peter, the impetuous fisherman who had walked on water and witnessed the Transfiguration, found himself struggling with something that seemed impossible: God's love extending beyond the boundaries he had always known.

The vision of the great sheet filled with unclean animals wasn't really about food—it was about people. It was about a Roman centurion named Cornelius whose prayers and acts of charity had risen like incense before the throne of God, and whose heart was prepared for the gospel that Peter carried.

Picture the scene: Peter, hungry and waiting for lunch, falls into a trance and sees heaven opened. But instead of receiving a revelation about end times or prophecy, he gets a practical lesson about prejudice. "Rise, Peter; kill and eat," the voice commands, presenting him with creatures that his Jewish upbringing had taught him were forbidden. Three times he protests, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." Three times heaven responds with patient correction: "What God has cleansed you must not call common." The vision ends just as three Gentile messengers arrive at his door—no coincidence in God's economy.

What strikes me most about this encounter is how God had to work on both sides of the equation. While Peter was receiving his vision, Cornelius was experiencing his own divine encounter—an angel appearing to him with instructions to send for the apostle. God doesn't just prepare the messenger; He prepares the hearts that will receive the message.

God is not looking for extraordinary people to do extraordinary things—He's looking for ordinary people who will trust Him for extraordinary results. Both Peter and Cornelius were ordinary men who said yes to God's extraordinary plan to break down the wall between Jew and Gentile.

When Peter finally arrived at Cornelius's house and began to preach, something unprecedented happened: the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles just as He had on the Jewish believers at Pentecost. No cultural requirements, no religious prerequisites—just the immediate, undeniable evidence of God's acceptance. Peter's conclusion was both simple and revolutionary: "God shows no partiality."

The gospel wasn't meant to be contained within the comfortable boundaries of familiar culture or race. It was always intended to flow like a river to every nation, every tribe, every tongue.

This same Spirit who broke down barriers in the first century is still at work today, calling us beyond our comfort zones and cultural preferences. Perhaps He's stirring your heart to reach that neighbor from a different background, to serve in a community unlike your own, or to support missions work in places that feel foreign to your experience. The call to go—whether across the street or across the world—often begins with God expanding our vision of His heart for all people. When we say yes to His call, obedience doesn't just open doors for us; it opens the door to nations.

Today, let this truth settle deep: God's love knows no boundaries, and His call to reach others extends far beyond our natural preferences and comfort zones. When He expands your vision, trust that He's already preparing hearts to receive what you carry.

For reflection: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any barriers in your heart toward certain people or groups. What "Cornelius" might God be calling you to reach with His love? How is He inviting you to step beyond your comfort zone for the sake of the gospel?

Rooted and grounded in grace,

– The Living Gospel Letters Team