When God Says Yes, Don't Say No

Baptist Daily Devotional
6 hours ago
3 min read

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 20 2025 | Acts 11:4-10

KEY VERSE: “⁸ I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Acts 11:8-9 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

In today’s passage, we see a clash between conviction and calling. Peter had strong religious convictions rooted in the Law. His obedience to dietary laws wasn’t rebellion - it was faithfulness. Yet when God called him to something new, Peter resisted. This passage captures the tension between deeply held tradition and the surprising wideness of God's grace. Evangelical mission begins when we stop calling unclean what God has declared clean. “Surely not, Lord!” (v. 8). Peter’s reaction was honest but conflicted. He calls God “Lord,” yet says “No.” This is the contradiction many believers face: holding on to the familiar while God is calling us into the unknown. Evangelical mission requires surrender, even when the call defies our religious comfort zones.

Again, Peter said, “Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” Peter was clinging to religious purity, but God was after gospel clarity. His obedience to the law had become a barrier to extending the love of God to others. God’s declaration overrides human traditions and prejudices, and this is the heart of the gospel: grace makes clean what law could only condemn. True and effective evangelism calls us to embrace God’s verdict, not our cultural or religious boundaries.

“This happened three times…” (v. 10); repetition underscores importance. God was not negotiating - He was transforming Peter's worldview. Sometimes God repeats the message until our hearts are ready to hear and obey. Peter's vision teaches that evangelism isn’t just about preaching to others—it’s about being changed ourselves. If the Church is to reach the world, we must stop labelling people as unreachable, unworthy, or unclean. We cannot share the gospel freely if we still hold on to filters that God has already torn down.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

When have you said “surely not” to God? Is there a “yes” you need to give to God where you’ve been saying “no”? When God calls us to people we once avoided, it’s not just for their salvation - it’s also for our transformation.

PRAYER:

Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve resisted Your will because of fear, pride, or tradition. Teach me to say “yes” when You speak, so I may be part of Your great mission to bring all people to Yourself. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 171: 2 Samuel 5 - David Becomes King Over All Israel

DAILY word study: IMPURE The word “impure” in Acts 11:8 comes from the Greek word koinon, which means “common” or “defiled.” In Jewish understanding, something koinon was ritually unclean, unsuitable for worship, and not to be consumed or touched. This could apply to food, people, or objects outside the ceremonial laws.

Peter used this word to justify why he wouldn’t eat what God showed him in the vision. But God corrected him: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This was a radical shift. God was declaring people previously considered “unclean” (Gentiles) as clean and accepted through Christ. God alone defines what is clean or unclean. The gospel redefines categories—those who were once far are now brought near by grace.

Reflection:

Is there someone you view as “impure,” “outside,” or “unlikely”? Ask God to help you see them through the lens of His redeeming love.