“And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.'” – Acts 10:15
The vision Peter received in Joppa was a critical moment God used to prepare his stubborn heart to welcome non-Jewish people into the church! While he originally thought it was only about food, he quickly learned that what God had always promised was really true – He desires to draw to Himself a family comprised of people from every nation, language, and tribe! Every person who believes in Jesus is made clean and we do NOT get to call them common!
That was a hard concept for established church members from “proper” Jewish backgrounds like Peter. It can still be a hard concept for us today. God desires for many to be saved from all walks of life, all places of birth, all races, all backgrounds, all social statuses, and all prior life experiences. God’s grace offered through Christ isn’t limited to people who look a certain way or act a certain way. Rather, He’s seeking to save the lost and welcome them all into His family and His church. Like Peter, we must be constantly open to God’s working in the hearts of those different from us, so that we may be as welcoming as Jesus Himself!