Deus purificavit | God has cleansed

"What God has made clean, you must not call profane." —Acts 10:15 (NRSV) 

Reflecting on this fascinating encounter with God, happening after St. Luke's account of Saul's conversion experience on the road to Damascus, as well as the miraculous healings that Peter was able to perform in Lydda & Joppa, it was obvious that Peter was a changed man, filled with the Holy Spirit, and a fiery preacher who preached fearlessly to thousands. Yet God who looks deep into the heart of man could identify remnants of Jewish kosher practices that might have blocked his ministry to save souls in the Name of Jesus. 

Three times the vision of the unclean food and the voice of God spoke to him, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane" (v. 15-16). In Scripture, when something is mentioned 3 times consecutively, it is an important message from the LORD. It's like how the visions of Seraphim circling the Throne in Heaven are described in both Isaiah Chapter 6 and St. John's Book of Revelation Chapter 4, as proclaiming "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD GOD Almighty…" 

Related to the vision Peter saw, Jesus had taught in Matthew 15:18-20 (NRSV), "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

In summary, true holiness is not marked by vain human efforts, but a surrendered soul in obeying the Father's Will and this too is a Grace of God - a circumcision of the heart to beat with the Father's Heartbeat, a heart surrendered unto Jesus, for His glory and purpose, a heart that is at rest, carried in the Shepherd's Arm. Therefore, obeying God's Will is infinitely more important than following vain human traditions that does not bring about transformation nor conviction in sinful human hearts.

I will end my short reflection with the beautiful old hymn, sung by Audrey Assad. 

"Holy, Holy, Holy"

Holy, holy, holy

Lord, God Almighty

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy

Though the darkness hide Thee

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy; 

there is none beside Thee

Perfect in power, in love, and purity

Holy, holy, holy

Lord, God Almighty

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea

Holy, holy, holy

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons blessed Trinity

Lyrics and video from YouTube: https://youtu.be/AgHrNNM23p8

Reflection on Acts 10:9-23 by Chris Tan