第十章
9 第二天,他們行路將近那城。彼得約在午正,上房頂去禱告, 10 覺得餓了,想要吃。那家的人正預備飯的時候,彼得魂遊象外, 11 看見天開了,有一物降下,好像一塊大布,繫著四角,縋在地上, 12 裡面有地上各樣四足的走獸和昆蟲,並天上的飛鳥; 13 又有聲音向他說:彼得,起來,宰了吃! 14 彼得卻說:主啊,這是不可的!凡俗物和不潔淨的物,我從來沒有吃過。 15 第二次有聲音向他說:神所潔淨的,你不可當作俗物。 16 這樣一連三次,那物隨即收回天上去了。 17 彼得心裡正在猜疑之間,不知所看見的異象是甚麼意思。哥尼流所差來的人已經訪問到西門的家,站在門外, 18 喊著問:有稱呼彼得的西門住在這裡沒有? 19 彼得還思想那異象的時候,聖靈向他說:有三個人來找你。
27 彼得和他說著話進去,見有好些人在那裡聚集, 28 就對他們說:你們知道,猶太人和別國的人親近來往本是不合例的,但神已經指示我,無論甚麼人都不可看作俗而不潔淨的。
默想
我的信仰生活中,是否有些因文化、背景、風俗、教育、習慣、興趣等的因素,阻礙或限制了我與他人的密切相交,或與人分享福音?
當我向朋友傳福音時,需要克服那些社會上或文化上的障礙?
反省一下我的禱告生活,神是否曾經透過禱告,幫助我突破在靈命和生活上的盲點、或固執持守的習慣?並更深經歷神的大能和引領?
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。
Chapter 10
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
Meditation
Is there anything (of culture, background, custom, habits, education, interest) that have limited or prohibited me of true fellowship or reaching out to others?
Reflect on my prayer experiences. In what areas have I experienced God’s guidance in prayer?
What are some of the social and cultural barriers that I need to break through as I seek to reach out to my friends for the gospel?
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.
Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)
Which friend of yours comes from a different background than yours? What are the differences and similarities between the two of you? Thank God for the many people in the world. Put a photo of you & your friend in your Family Devotional Journal. Lead the family sing “Jesus loves the little children”. Since Jesus loves all the children of the world, so shall we.