Acts 11:1-18 NKJV

[1] Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. [2] And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, [3] saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” [4] But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: [5] “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. [6] When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. [7] And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ [8] But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ [9] But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ [10] Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. [11] At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. [12] Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. [13] And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, [14] who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ [15] And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. [16] Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ [17] If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” [18] When they heard these things, they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

I am not one of those people who have a longstanding history of good, healthy, moral decisions. I still carry some regrets from the horrendous foolishness of my past. I'm no longer burdened by guilt and shame, but I am not immune to wishing I had tried harder, started earlier, and done better at pursuing God's purpose for my life.

Cornelius knew he didn't "belong" to the Jewish faith. Peter knew he wasn't supposed to enter the home of a Gentile. If either of them had listened to the convictions of man, neither would have answered the call of God. Both would have missed out on the opportunity to make religious history and break barriers man had put in place.

If I kept my mind trained on all of the things that disqualify me, would I have ever started reading, praying, and journaling? I would probably still be stuck in the hopelessness of my past. Jesus did not come to constantly remind us of all we've done wrong. He came to set us free from our sins. He calls us to repentance. He came to remove the roadblocks of regret that keep us from pursuing His righteousness.