Who will He call? In His Word 1-21-2021
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named
Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout,
God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the
poor and prayed regularly to God. One
afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God
coming toward him.
“Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in
terror.
“What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor
have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man
named Simon Peter. He is staying with
Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” As soon as the angel was gone,
Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his
personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
Acts 10:1-8.
Cornelius was obedient to the angel of God and did what he
said right away. Are we apt to be as quick in response? Or do we wait to see if
it is truly God? Cornelius sent his men straight away and they found Peter as
they were told, when they got there they found that God was preparing Peter as
well!
The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the
town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was
hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the
sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In
the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill
and eat them.”
“No, Lord,” Peter
declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared
impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean
if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the
sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Peter was very perplexed. What could
the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Acts
10:9-17.
When God tells us that something is to be done, in a certain
way, we need to do it even if it goes against our nature. Peter only ate the
things that were in the Law to eat, prepared in the proper ways and nothing ‘unclean’
touched his lips. Yet God was telling him to do something totally different today.
I find it interesting Peter that he was invited to go with them, because of the
vision he had received Peter accepted.
He went into the house of a Gentile and understood that God had made it okay. You see, the Jews were not permitted to enter a Gentile dwelling, but God had shown Peter that He was snowing no favoritism but was open to Peter sharing the Good News of Christ to all nations. He taught him with food but was meaning to accept what He put before him as clean and acceptable to do. Even if it meant going into a stranger’s home and blessing it, and all who lived there with the saving grace of Jesus Christ!
Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house
about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in
dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been
heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! Now send messengers
to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of
Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So, I sent for you at once, and
it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the
message the Lord has given you.”
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no
favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
his is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace
with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:30-36.
Sometimes God will bring us to a situation that we did not
think we would ever be in so that He could bring us to speak to someone we
never thought we would speak to so that we are the Gospel message, and that of
healing, and peace, and love with the persons around us. Do not think that you
or I are different, God will use each of us in His way. The only difference is
the people He puts before us are for the time and the place He has chosen. My witness may go out over the internet,
yours may be in person. Whatever, and wherever and even whomever God puts
before us we are to walk in the path and do whatever His Holy Spirit directs us
to do.
Often God will give us a direct word to share with someone,
sort of like with Peter. He knew what to do, and Cornelius knew who to send
for. Other times we may be given a word and not have a clue what it is about or
even if it did what it said it would do.
Many years ago, the Lord gave me a word in church. I was to
tell someone that the vision I saw in my mind’s eye was about their life. I was
shaking. I was nervous, and almost did not do it but… When I stood up to leave
God placed this person in my eye view. So, I shared the vision of a teacup and
saucer that were dropped to the ground and shattered... but then the cup came
back up into the hands that had dropped it perfect and without damage.
Reformed, and rebuilt. I told her that the teacup was her life. I had no idea and
still today I do not really know what she was going through, but I know it was
of the Lord and that it touched her heart if even for a moment in time. God took her through some earth-shattering
experience and brought her life back together I am sure of it. My part was only
to share the vision. I was not involved in her life really; she was just
someone who was in a group that met for pot lucks and Bible studies, and I
called her my friend but we did not really know one another that well yet.
Still, I trust that God knew what was going on. I have not spoken with her in
many years, but today I thought of her while reading this section of the Word.
We do not know what our words, or our obedience to our calling will do for
someone else, often we do not even know why God told us the thing.
Peter was perplexed at first over the three copies of his vision. He had no
idea at first, but later God revealed it to him. Still, Peter followed the
direction of the vision and because of that the household he would have avoided
came to saving grace!
Has God spoken to you recently about doing something? Maybe
stepping out there to share a word, and faith with someone you hardly know?
Maybe He encouraged you to join a life group for His purpose? Do you know that
only God knows why He pushes us forward to do things we are a bit uncomfortable
with? He gave me the idea to start a Youtube Channel and now I am doing weekly
splatters of Jesus and life… perhaps someone out there will be reached for Him
through it, but I know some have been encouraged already. The point is, I am
being obedient so God can run with it!
Its not about me, but about His directions and His plan no matter how
hard it is for me in the physical, He will work in the Spirit to do will and
draw others to Him, and His calling. Our job is just to do the best we can to
do His will in our little lives. In Jesus’ name.
Read it all! Acts 10:
1-48 and think about what God has called you to do today.