The adventures of the first century church continue, as we find God busily at work in so many lives! Today’s reading introduces us to a Roman centurion named Cornelius, a God-fearing family man of prayer, who showed compassion to the poor. Though he didn’t realize it, Cornelius was longing for more than just the awareness of the existence of a Creator – he was yearning for personal relationship with Him! Cornelius was what we might describe as a wonderfully religious person, yet, in spite of his great character and good deeds, he realized something was lacking in his life.
What a comfort to know that whenever a person seeks after the Lord, he or she will find Him! Once again, the book of Acts allows us to see the behind-the-scenes working of our mighty God, as we watch Cornelius, a man in need of new spiritual birth, divinely directed to the very person who would be able to answer all of his questions and provide him with the answers his soul craved – the one and only Simon Peter!
Where do we fit into this picture? We read that God has “given us the ministry of reconciliation… committing to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (II Cor. 5:18-20). The work of the Gospel – the spreading of the Good News - has been entrusted to us! God has put upon each and every one of us who believe the title of “Ambassador,” and has commissioned us to be actively at work, letting others know about the opportunity we have to be reconciled – put into a right relationship with Him through the work of Jesus!
We see in these verses of chapter 10 that God was at work, preparing, Peter to bring the message, while at the same time preparing Cornelius to hear it! As Warren Wiersbe says, “Salvation is a divine work of grace, but God works through human channels. Angels can deliver God’s messages to lost men, but they cannot preach the Gospel to them. That is our privilege—and responsibility.”
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All around us people are searching, just as Cornelius was. They may be family members, friends, co-workers or neighbors – but they’re there, surrounding us at every turn! Will we trust that as God is working in their lives to draw them to Himself, that He is also wanting to use our lives as the human channels through which His divine work of grace can flow?
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Specifically think of two or three individuals you know and be in prayer for them this week! Ask the Lord to arrange the circumstances and open the door for you to be His light of life to them! (And don’t lose sight of the fact that God may choose to use us in the life of a total stranger, too! It’s our availability, as well as our on-going intimate connection with Him that will enable supernatural things to take place!)
With blessings in Him,
Pastor John & Robin
