Acts 10:9-15

About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 

What things are you holding onto that you need to let go of?

Traditions are tricky. They are usually started for the best of reasons. Sometimes those reasons are even reasons that came directly from God and were important for the survival and vitality of God's people.

But does that mean they stay around forever?

There were good reasons the Hebrew people were told not to eat certain foods as they left Egypt and began their journey to the promised land. The Torah had many laws and instructions for the Hebrews that were vital for their survival.

And those laws came from God.

But as we began our journey as early Christians, those laws no longer had the same urgency.

Isn't it often easy and tempting to hold on to things even when they are no longer urgent or necessary?

We are, I believe, still holding onto traditions (that we have sometimes labeled "laws") beyond their expiration date. 

It's hard deciding which those are. It's hard doing the work required to find out.

Yet I believe that is exactly what the Holy Spirit enables us to do.

What are things we are holding onto that we need to let go of?

Lord of life, teach us to let go that which is holding us back from seeing the new life your Holy Spirit is bringing into this world. Amen.