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As we move on into Acts 10, please take time to read the biblical text. It is vitally important to feed regularly upon God's holy Word, and not just thoughts from the Scriptures.

Following the wave of persecution - following the amazing dealings of the risen and living Jesus with Saul of Tarsus - Peter sets out to travel around, visiting those disciples of Jesus who had experienced a sore traumatic costly time. Some would be and pained and wounded. Most would have questions. Emotions would be raw. There would be much to do. Many stories to hear. Many wounds requiring healing.

Luke tells is how in Lydda a man who had been bed-ridden for 8 years is healed. Then Peter is called to Joppa, where a much loved disciple, Tabitha has died, and Peter goes and does what he has never previously done. He kneels and prays and she is raised.

Peter went to visit the saints, and other things happened as well. As Peter cared for the lambs and fed the sheep, as Jesus had commanded him to do, new lambs were being born into the flock.

In the city of Caesarea, (north of modern day Tel Aviv) there was a Roman army officer called Cornelius. He was a deeply religious man, who feared God. He was most generous and gave willingly to those in need. (It is amazing how often being generous is mentioned in these early days of The Church of Jesus Christ.)

Cornelius prayed and fasted. None of these things made him a Christian - a disciple - a believer - and none of these rather admirable qualities satisfied him spiritually. Although he prayed a lot, he never seemed to be getting answers to his prayers. But, and this is important, he kept on praying. He did not give up. This deeply religious man is seeking and searching for something real, but at this moment, Cornelius is spiritually blind.

One day, the answer began to come. God gave him a vision. He saw an angel coming to him and calling him by name, "Cornelius", and when he looked at the angel he was afraid. How frequently do people react in a similar way when God moves in what might be regarded as an unusual manner. This highly trained Roman Army Officer becomes afraid. Yet, he says, "What is it Lord?" The angel replies, "God has seen your prayers and your generous giving." Our God sees all things, even when we think HE is not looking. "Now, send men to Joppa, and call for Simon Peter." How is that for commanding the Commanding Officer?

This was a most unthinkable thing to do - for a Gentile Roman Army Officer to send for a Jew and in this case he is sending for a Christian Jew who had been in and out of jail. He is an officer in the conquering and controlling army - the army which had seen to the crucifixion of the so-called leader of this new movement called THE WAY. We know it as Christianity.

Cornelius was a man who knew how to give orders, and he is a man who knows how to take orders from someone in higher - how to obey orders. There are very few people today able to do that. He is discerning enough to recognise that the angel of The Lord has real authority.

How are we when it comes to obeying orders and discerning the voice of the living God? This is an area where people can struggle and wrestle.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Our Children Are Our Future