“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” Romans 14:17
The landscape and terrain of Israel is fascinating but equally captivating scenery adorns the roof tops of homes throughout the country and especially in the more crowded cities. Many housetops are decorated with hanging curtains, plants, furniture and lighting. In the United States it is rare to see roof top living and consequently when the Bible speaks of people being on the roof top it is difficult to visualize. But seeing it in person made those scriptures come alive for me. In the tenth chapter of Acts, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.” The roofs of houses in Judea were flat and persons would go there for devotion, recreation and prayer. It was a private place to be alone with God. The sixth hour would have been a noon time prayer and in spite of being very hungry (vs 10) Peter was devoted to his time with God. Prayer was a vital part of who Peter was a Jew and as an Apostle, so much so he sought out a place to pray in a home that was not his own and he delayed eating in spite of ravishing hunger. It is important to note that the pivotal events of this passage started with two men praying and ended with many people praying.
“But while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”(Acts 10: 10-13) Everything about Peter would have revolted against touching or eating anything common or unclean as ordained by his Jewish culture. And that was evident in his response, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”(vs 14) “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything common or unclean that God has made clean.” This happened three times and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”(vs 15-16) The Lord revealed to Peter in the vision what God has made clean, Believers were not to call unclean. The wall between Jew and Gentile was torn down; Jews and Gentiles alike are acceptable to God. We will explore more of the wondrous fallout of Paul’s vision in tidbits to come because as miraculous as the vision was it is just the backstory and will lead us to another one of my favorite places in Israel. For this week, give praise that there is no veil between any Believer and God and that prayer is our fast speed connection to heaven. We are to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), so don’t be shy this week. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
Enjoy the picture of prayer from a rooftop in Jerusalem