How do we even know what God's will is? The answer is reading the Bible, listening to His Spirit, and by prayer. This is how we learn God's heart and what He desires. When Peter went to the rooftop to pray, it was not about how he could take the Gospel to the Gentile people! However, the key here is that Peter did pray! Peter took time in the middle of the day to talk to God. God was then able to show Peter His will in a vision. This changed Peter's beliefs about the Gentile people (Acts 10:28). Jesus' disciples asked Him how they should pray. Jesus told them to pray that God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). That means that God's will would be done without resistance and to completion - every time! God has given every believer the Holy Spirit to help us to pray in harmony with His will (Romans 8:26-27). When we pray, we should ask God to show us what He wants to do rather than telling Him what we think He should do. When we pray this way, we can walk in step with His will for our lives. In this way, God's will can be accomplished on earth.

God gave Peter an amazing, unexpected vision as he prayed on the rooftop. This vision was both puzzling and troubling to Peter. What did all of this mean this mean to him? It completely came against the Jewish law he followed and turned his thinking upside down about the Gentiles. However, none of this stopped Peter from obeying God by faith. There are many examples in the Bible, such as Noah, Moses, Joshua, and Abraham that obeyed God by faith even when they didn't understand (Hebrews 11). Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Peter trusted and obeyed God more than his own understanding. Peter did not have all the answers to his questions before he began his journey to meet Cornelius. He obeyed by faith and then God opened his understanding.

Even as Peter was speaking, the people in Cornelius' house received it and God poured out the Holy Spirit on them (Acts 10:44-48). Peter's Jewish friends were amazed to hear the Gentiles praising God in different languages. Afterwards, the new believers were baptized in water. These powerful results all came through the word of God working in the Gentile's heart as Peter spoke. God's word is the same today as in Peter's day. The word of God is alive and powerful and works inside of all who hear it (Hebrews 4:12). 1 Peter 1:23 says, "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." Yes, God calls us to speak His word to others and He will then bring results. Isaiah 55:11 God says, "It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, it will prosper everywhere I send it."

No, God does not have favorites. God revealed to Peter that He did not want Peter to call the Gentiles unclean or view them as unworthy of His love and favor. Acts 10:34-35 says, "Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right." God accepts everyone in the same way. Do you hold prejudice feelings toward certain people? Are their people that you feel are not worthy of God's favor and love? God is not pleased when we see ourselves as better or superior to others. Romans 2:10-11 says, "But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism." There are no favorites in God's eyes; so let us always see others through His eyes.

When Peter returned to Jerusalem he was criticized by the apostles and other believers for going into Cornelius' house and eating with them! Peter explained to them all that had happened. He told them how God had spoken to him and Cornelius in separate visions. He explained how God poured out His Spirit on them just as God had done with the Jews. Acts 11:18 says, "When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” The Holy Spirit revealed truth to the believers in Jerusalem just as He had revealed to Peter earlier! This turned their criticism and objections into praise (Acts 11:1-18). Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13a). Praise God, as believers in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us that will reveal all truth!