JESUS IS FOR EVERYONE 5

As we've followed Peter's journey with Jesus this week, we have seen him move from fishing for fish to fishing for people. His life changed when he recognized the holiness of Jesus. He had faith to walk on water—at least for a little while—and even though he feared for his life in the midst of unimaginable trials, twists, and turns, he loved Jesus deeply. Peter took Jesus' challenge to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17) very seriously. On Day 5 we get to walk beside Peter while he not only learned that Jesus is for everyone but also while he confidently shared what he had learned.

Until recently I had always skipped over the fact that Simon, who Peter was staying with at the time of today's story, was a tanner. It just seemed like a normal thing to say about someone when you're introducing him, "Hey, this is Simon. He's a leather-maker." However, this introduction would certainly translate differently to a Jewish person in the 1st century than it did to me—a Gentile in the 21st century. Being a tanner, working with animal hides, was an unclean profession. So then why was Peter even staying at Simon's house? Could God have been working in Peter's heart to help him understand "What God has made clean, do not call impure?" (Acts 10:15)

After all, God had already been working on Cornelius' heart. He was already interested in God and did a lot of "good" things. God heard his prayers and made a lot of things happen to make sure Cornelius and his family clearly heard the message of salvation.

📷 Cornelius had to recognize his vision was from God.

📷 He had to obey the message and send men to Joppa.

📷 The men had to go and find Peter.

📷 Peter had to go up to the roof to pray.

📷 God had to give Peter a vision for him to understand why he should go with the men.

📷 Peter had to understand and believe the vision.

📷 Peter had to go with the men to Caesarea when it was forbidden by the Jewish custom to associate with foreigners.

📷 Cornelius had to gather his friends and family.

📷 The friends and family had to accept the invitation and listen to Peter's message.

📷 Peter had to be bold and share a message that went against popular Jewish belief. At this point, many Jews believed that salvation was only for them. (See Romans 3:29.)

📷 Everyone gathered had to listen, allow their hearts to be open, and make decisions to place their faith in Jesus alone for salvation.

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