November 10 - Acts 10-12
This passage focuses on Peter and his visit to the Gentile, Cornelius. It is very encouraging to me, because it shows how God clearly directed Peter to do some drastic new things to spread the gospel. I know that He can and will do the same kind of things with you and me, if we will let Him direct us.
In chapters 10 and 11 Peter is shown that Gentiles are not unclean in a vision given to him by God. All of his life he had been taught not to associate with Gentiles, because they were unclean, and now God had shown him differently. He received the messengers sent from Cornelius, he went to them, and they were saved after he preached the gospel to them. Is there something holding you back from moving forward in your walk with God or your witness to others? I pray that we will not allow our past influences to limit our service for God or the spread of the gospel. I pray that we will listen as God directs us in new ways.
In chapter 12 Peter is released from prison by an angel. It is a great miracle, and the church was praying for his release, but they could not believe it, when it happened. In other words, they had faith to pray, but their faith was not complete, was it? God still answered their prayer, though. Our faith does not have to be perfect. We must have real, live faith in the Lord. However, God still hears us and works in our lives, if our faith is not perfect. Don't let Satan keep you from praying and following the Lord, because you don't understand everything or you have a hard time believing some things. Keep praying! Keep seeking the Lord. Be open to what He will say to you, and your faith will grow. One day you can have a mature faith, but in the mean time, you can still serve the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 13-15.
In chapters 10 and 11 Peter is shown that Gentiles are not unclean in a vision given to him by God. All of his life he had been taught not to associate with Gentiles, because they were unclean, and now God had shown him differently. He received the messengers sent from Cornelius, he went to them, and they were saved after he preached the gospel to them. Is there something holding you back from moving forward in your walk with God or your witness to others? I pray that we will not allow our past influences to limit our service for God or the spread of the gospel. I pray that we will listen as God directs us in new ways.
In chapter 12 Peter is released from prison by an angel. It is a great miracle, and the church was praying for his release, but they could not believe it, when it happened. In other words, they had faith to pray, but their faith was not complete, was it? God still answered their prayer, though. Our faith does not have to be perfect. We must have real, live faith in the Lord. However, God still hears us and works in our lives, if our faith is not perfect. Don't let Satan keep you from praying and following the Lord, because you don't understand everything or you have a hard time believing some things. Keep praying! Keep seeking the Lord. Be open to what He will say to you, and your faith will grow. One day you can have a mature faith, but in the mean time, you can still serve the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 13-15.