How Acts 10 Helped Me Make the Most of My F1 Experience

Like many new fans of Formula 1, I’ve embarked on a pilgrimage of sorts to see a few races in person. Last fall, my sister and I decided to take in the fullness of a GP experience from the grandstands of the US Grand Prix in Austin, TX. As it turns out, we have other life goals outside of F1, and budgets to help us achieve them, so Paddock Club was out of the question. But one goal we both had this time was to fully enjoy ourselves and make the most of the experience and every dollar we were spending.

That being said, my sister did an outstanding job picking the best places to dine and stay in Austin, and events to attend, thus increasing our chances to network and hang with other race enthusiasts and more widely known faces of F1.

I will admit that I had an ulterior motive coming into this adventure too: to connect with at least one soul on the topic of faith. Leading up to the race weekend, I’d been slowly making my way through the Bible in A Year Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz, and there was a line from one of the recently played episodes on Acts 10 that was on constant replay in my mind: “God is not a respecter of persons.”

Leading up to the weekend, we’d had some fortuitous conversations. That Wednesday, we attended a refreshingly insightful panel hosted by Aston Martin where one of the panelists mentioned her faith in a way that seemed so special, so specific, and so obedient to what a moment like that needed. And what a person in our respective professional callings needed too. God bless her for that. Because while I started to doubt whether we should’ve been in that event in the first place, her words resonated so strongly that they confirmed we were exactly where we needed to be, meeting the people God wanted us to meet.

But the line from Acts 10, “God is not a respecter of persons,” continued to replay in my mind, as an almost punishing drumbeat into the weekend proper. So as we were waiting in an amphitheater for the Driver Engagement to start, I decided to pull out my phone and just read Acts 10, slowly and contemplatively. And like clockwork, the Holy Spirit tendered my heart about the beautiful movements of this passage, and I began to weep softly as I took them all in.

Laura Winter interviewing Lewis Hamilton at the Driver Engagement

In summary, and before I go into greater detail of the revelations that came to me as I read the verses, this refrain I keep repeating means that God shows no partiality when it comes to who may receive salvation. All, by faith, may join the kingdom of God, and there are no favorites in his kingdom.

As it was our initial goal to meet as many people and moments as possible to make the most of our experience, I was also reminded that I could pray for God to direct our paths to the ones that would leave the best impression on us, and us on them. And coming into that realization, I resolved to feel unhurried yet dutiful, moving purposefully, and speaking intentionally with hospitality, curiosity, and conviction. A decision that came from this moment of reflection on Acts 10.

So I thought I’d share with you here a few “personal pearls” I picked up along my journey through that scripture. I pray that God opens your heart and minds to a specific word he may have for you from this as well. I encourage you to read through the chapter for yourself first, slowly, sitting on each verse until you can picture it, and then moving on to the next.

I also highly recommend reading with a study Bible or guide that makes further contextual sense of what’s happening.

My thoughts:

Acts 10:1-2

“Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.” Acts 10:1-2 NASB1995

-This starts with a personal checkpoint: What are we doing with the opportunities God has given us? What are we doing with the resources God has entrusted to us?

-When we say resources, our first thought is usually money, which, I agree is important. But there’s also time, wisdom, even our words.

Acts 10:3-15

“About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God…On the next day…Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground…” Acts 10:3-4, 9-11 NASB1995

-“God inhabits the praise of his people.” When we live in perpetual worship, connected to God through the various spiritual practices and disciplines, God continues to reveal himself to us. He finds good soil in which to plant seeds.

Acts 10:15-16

“A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.” Acts 10:13-16 NASB1995

-“What God has made clean, do not call unclean.”

-Is there something or someone that God continues to prompt you toward? A holy nudge? What feels like a burden you want to ignore but can’t?

-Can we, like Peter, press in in prayer and fasting until God releases his Spirit about it?

-Have we sought the face of God the way Moses did, the way Jesus did.

-This is an encouragement. Because I know there are times we have pressed him and still felt like we came up short. But God doesn’t waste anything we give to him. Whether it’s our time, our words, our prayers.

-the beauty of the Christian faith is that you’re not always going to know the full impact of the things you do in obedience to God.

Acts 10:17-26

“On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”” Acts 10:24-26 NASB1995

-“I too am just a man.” - Peter…. who would be recognized as the “founder” of the first organized Christian church.

-Who or what are we chasing? Who or what have we deified in our lives and hearts above God? Whose audience do we weigh greater than God’s? Whose validation do we seek?

-Have we co-mingled purposeful positioning with vain pursuit?

-Example: I began to feel out of pocket at the Aston Martin Make a Mark diversity in STEM event. We definitely felt like the oldest in the audience, as it was held at UT Austin. So I pulled out my phone no fewer than three times to make sure I didn’t read the event description incorrectly: “Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious about the latest trends and ideas, the Make A Mark Conversation Series promises to inspire and spark new perspectives.” As the event progressed, connections were made and well-cut professional gems were dropped. Overall, absolutely worth attending. Especially when someone mentioned their faith, which reminded me:

-God can send anyone, anywhere. But in Peter’s case, he couldn’t send him to Cornelius’s home without that revelation on the roof that transformed Peter’s heart to be accepting towards non-Jewish people.

-And when God sends you, stay curious, but don’t let the doubts of everyone else discourage you from being fully present. You may feel out of place, and that just leaves more room to invite God in to guide your actions and your words.

-This point is re-emphasized in verses 27-33

Acts 10:34-43

“Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him…And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”” Acts 10:34-35, 42-43 NASB1995

-How do we share the gospel? What is our testimony?

-I was so moved by this moment because, Cornelius must’ve recounted his vision to everyone in that room for them to be there, open and ready to experience whatever would happen next.

-That’s what happens (or should happen) when God moves in our lives, we share that testimony with those around us (Rev 12:11)

-And the words that Peter shares are so “simple.” There’s no eloquence. It’s just an unadulterated ministration of the Gospel, and one worth memorizing and adding to our “this is the gospel” rolodex.

-The simplicity also reminds me that I may sometimes overthink what needs to be said in these moments when ultimately, God just uses our sincerity.

-It’s also a reminder though, to not slack in the things of God. “Be ready in season and out of season” is a word for every Christian. Sometimes we prevent ourselves from entering the spaces God wants us in because we are not ready or we’re not doing the work well enough, or taking the work seriously enough to be there.

-If we knew someone were careless with how they repaired our car, we wouldn’t drive it after it leaves their shop. If we knew someone were careless about how they built a bridge, we wouldn’t get on said bridge, we’d take another route. Who would get on an elevator that has an “out of service” sign on it. Let God work on you, and accept and practice his instructions to you. Read his Word and meditate on it. It doesn’t need to be a full chapter a day. It can be small bites. It doesn’t have to be thematic. Start with one book. Share what it reveals with your friends, your life group.

Acts 10:44-48

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message… “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.” Acts 10:44, 47-48 NASB1995

-To the point I just made, I don’t need to embellish this moment either

-When the spirit brings my attention to something, I usually become tender-hearted. Tearful. It’s literally God revealing his heart to me. My heart becomes tender because this thing makes God’s heart tender too.

-What excites me finally, and most recently, is verse 47.

-When God moves, let’s be ready to accept those hearts (the people) he moves in. They may not be just like us. That’s also the point. God’s kingdom is fulfilled with people of every tribe, nation, and tongue.

-It reminds me of the times when I’ve gathered my colleagues with my church friends on occasion. My colleagues are stunned by the diversity of in the room.

-It’s a testament of how God’s love brings us all together.

In reflection, here are a few questions we can ask ourselves from this:

-Is there a recent holy nudge or burden that God has placed in your mind? How have you responded to it? How will you respond to it?

-Share a testimony! How does it reveal the heart of God?

When our hearts, minds, and efforts are open to, obedient to, and fixed on God, he is faithful to use them for his glory, beyond what we may ever even observe for ourselves. Let’s keep pressing in to him.

In love and veritas,

Chioma