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Acts 10:1-12:5<\/strong><\/span> I love it!\u00a0 Almost every time we see an angel visit someone the visited person is panic stricken by the angel!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Verse 4 today \u2013 \u201cCornelius stared at him in terror. \u201cWhat is it, sir?\u201d he asked the angel.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Seriously, it\u2019s pretty consistent that people in the Bible get freaked out by angelic visitors.\u00a0 Probably because it\u2019s a pretty rare thing.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think you\u2019d get freaked out \/ scared if an angel visited you?\u00a0 I am pretty sure I would.\u00a0 Maybe that\u2019s why angels only show up in our human world visuals when something big needs to happen.\u00a0 Something big happens in today\u2019s (and tomorrow\u2019s) readings with Cornelius and Peter.\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking if you or I were visited by an angel today, we might end up with an expression somewhat like this\u2026\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Before we get to the big thing that happens today with Peter, check the remainder of verse 4: \u201cAnd the angel replied, \u201cYour prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Hmmm\u2026\u00a0 think God pays attention when we give gifts to the poor?\u00a0 Have you found a consistent way to give gifts to the poor?<\/span><\/p>\n I think Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible Companion answers the question well of \u201cWhat was the meaning of the vision Peter saw?\u201d as follows:\u00a0 \u201cAccording to Jewish law, certain foods were forbidden to be eaten (<\/span>see Leviticus 11<\/span>).\u00a0 The food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement.\u00a0 In fact, the Gentiles themselves were often seen as \u2018unclean.\u2019\u00a0 Peter\u2019s vision meant that he should not look upon the Gentiles as inferior people whom God would not redeem.\u00a0 Before having the vision, Peter would have thought that a Roman officer could not accept Christ.\u00a0 Afterward, he understood that it was his responsibility to go with the messengers into a Gentile home and tell Cornelius the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Acts readings titled \u201cIs Cleanliness Next to Godliness?\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Acts 10 verses 25 & 26 stood out to me today \u2013 \u201cAs Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. But Peter pulled him up and said, \u201cStand up! I\u2019m a human being like you!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0This reminds me that this type of stuff can still happen today.\u00a0 I am afraid that sometimes we can end up worshiping people today, instead of worshiping God.\u00a0 And I\u2019m afraid that this can oftentimes happen in the context of our churches.\u00a0 I have to say that I have seen what almost looks like worship of Pastors at churches.\u00a0 And that ain\u2019t a good thing\u2026\u00a0 Pastors are human beings just like us!\u00a0 Yes, they are called to a very high standard in Paul\u2019s letter to Timothy, which we\u2019ll read later this year.\u00a0 But Pastors are not God.\u00a0 They are not divine.\u00a0 They should not be worshiped.\u00a0 Yes, they can help lead us in worship of God in great ways and with great messages.\u00a0 But let us make sure we are directing our worship at the true Rock and Light and Author of All who will never fail us and never let us down \u2013 God.\u00a0 So, stand up before your pastor.\u00a0 Pastors are humans just like us\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Peter\u2019s words in verses 34 \u2013 36 are so powerful and are a huge turning point in the Gospel beginning to be preached to the Gentiles (non-Jews) \u2013 \u201cI see very clearly that God doesn\u2019t show partiality. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel\u2013that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that God does not show partiality?\u00a0 Do you believe that in every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right?\u00a0 Do you believe there is peace with God through Jesus?\u00a0 Do you know this peace?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n I love how Peter answers his \u201ccritics\u201d in Acts chapter 11 today.\u00a0 He simply tells them the story of what happened.\u00a0 And through this plain and simple act of telling his story truthfully we get to verse 18 \u2013 \u201cWhen the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, \u201cGod has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And this makes me wonder about our lives today.\u00a0 How do we answer our \u201ccritics\u201d when it comes to our faith?\u00a0 Is it possible that we can answer our critics simply by telling our story?\u00a0 Just like Peter simply answered his critics with his story?\u00a0 Is it possible that our story of how God reached out and changed our lives could be very effective in winning hearts and minds for Jesus?\u00a0 I think sometimes we underestimate the power of simply telling our story.\u00a0 It is our story \u2013 and after we tell it, how can anyone really criticize it?\u00a0 Or argue with it?\u00a0 It is our story.\u00a0 Let us tell it.\u00a0 And let us tell our story often and with great love.\u00a0 I believe God can work wonders when we simply tell our stories\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Acts readings titled \u201cPeter is Called on the Carpet\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cOne Step Backward and Two Steps Forward\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n I love verse 5 in chapter 12 as Peter was put in jail \u2013 \u201cBut while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Who are you praying for very earnestly these days?\u00a0 Do you think that prayer changes things?\u00a0 How is your prayer life this very day?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings remind me of Third Day\u2019s song \u201cCall My Name:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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