Three Sheets in the Wind

Acts 11:1-18 RSV

Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” But Peter began and explained to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me. Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”

Three Sheets in the Wind

Three times... three seems to be a common number in the Bible. And what did God say? What God makes clean is clean... even if it was once unclean. And that ain't common... not God's words but mine as I read it. And how did the unclean become cleansed. It wasn't due to what the unclean did... hey! wait a minute... that's me! I'm an Unclean Gentile animal of sorts. I didn't make myself clean. Only God can cleanse the unclean. And that is not common!

Then the Holy Spirit drops by. Maybe that the Wind in the Three Sheets. But don't take what I have to say here lightly. It's not in jest even though I'm making it to be. Because in the end... myself, perhaps you also and the Gentiles to which "God has granted repentance unto life."  are gathered together in that sheet dropped to this earth and taken back into heaven to be with God. And that IS a big deal. I am acceptable to God not because of me but because of God. I am cleansed in the waters of my baptism through the Holy Spirit and claimed by God. Claimed, even though I come unclean. For it is through God that I am cleansed. "If then God gave the same gift to them (me... you) as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"

That believing in Jesus. As I recall my baptism... how can I help to not respond in belief?

Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord... you show me in your life and your ways how to believe. How can this common man be acceptable? Only through you. I give you all thanks and praise for what you have done for me and all humanity... today... tomorrow... and forever.

Amen