March 5, 2019
Acts 10:23-33 Good News Translation (GNT)
When it comes to our relationship with God, there is always going to be room to grow and receive more. God is limitless in supply and love. In our passage today, Cornelius is hungry for more of God, but he does not really understand the work of faith, the supply of grace, or how to be filled. Charity and giving to others has been Cornelius’ focus, but now God is directing his attention toward a personal relationship of power from the inside out. Peter has a personal relationship with Christ and God is setting him up to share about it with hungry souls. The connection between Peter and Cornelius all began with prayer.
People around you need to know a personal and loving God; the God you serve and love. If people do not know Christ, nor have received him into their hearts, they are hungry for something they have not identified. So, pray and make yourself available to God then turn and help others put the pieces together and make the connection.
Acts 10:23-33
23 Peter invited the men in and had them spend the night there.
The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25 As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26 But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said, “I myself am only a man.” 27 Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29 And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31 and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32 Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’ 33 And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing people into my life who need you. Holy Spirit, please prompt me to share as you direct. In Jesus’ name. Amen.