Thought for today June 12, 2018: Topic - Strict Obedience During Your Days of Confusion
Strict Obedience During Your Days of Confusion
Acts 10:11-21
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"
Thoughts for Today:
We know how this story is going to end, but Peter doesn't. He is still scratching his head wondering what this vision could mean. It must have been a really difficult time for him. Here he was violating Jewish culture by staying in the house of Simon the tanner, and then he has a vision from the Lord telling him to eat animals that he had previously been taught were impure or unclean. Now a group of soldiers -- men from Cornelius -- had come to Simon's house looking for him (I certainly would be concerned if a group of soldiers were looking for me). Talk about stress -- he must have been on overload.
So as Peter is still trying to figure out what the vision meant and what the soldiers want with him, the Spirit comes and tells him to "get up... go downstairs... do not hesitate to go with them for I have sent them." I don't want to under-emphasize the courage it took for Peter to do what the Spirit instructed. I'm sure his temptation was to exit out a back door and not stop running until he got back to family and friends in Jerusalem. Remember the Spirit speaks like the wind -- a whisper, a nudge -- so it's not like Peter had a pillar of fire leading him through this experience. Yet Peter gained control over his fear and his doubts and chose to obey. This is a gigantic lesson for all of us and is one of the great keys to our Christian maturity -- making the choice to obey despite our confusion, fear, or doubts.
Questions to Ponder:
So often we feel the need to know all the answers before we act. Unfortunately, God does not always make sure we "feel comfortable" before He asks us to obey. In fact, the Bible is full of stories of faith -- people just like you and me who followed God despite their fear and doubt. What would it take for you to have a "Biblical" quality of faith? What steps do you need to take to follow God in spite of your fears and doubts? How could you do that today?
Strict Obedience During Your Days of Confusion
Acts 10:11-21
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"
Thoughts for Today:
We know how this story is going to end, but Peter doesn't. He is still scratching his head wondering what this vision could mean. It must have been a really difficult time for him. Here he was violating Jewish culture by staying in the house of Simon the tanner, and then he has a vision from the Lord telling him to eat animals that he had previously been taught were impure or unclean. Now a group of soldiers -- men from Cornelius -- had come to Simon's house looking for him (I certainly would be concerned if a group of soldiers were looking for me). Talk about stress -- he must have been on overload.
So as Peter is still trying to figure out what the vision meant and what the soldiers want with him, the Spirit comes and tells him to "get up... go downstairs... do not hesitate to go with them for I have sent them." I don't want to under-emphasize the courage it took for Peter to do what the Spirit instructed. I'm sure his temptation was to exit out a back door and not stop running until he got back to family and friends in Jerusalem. Remember the Spirit speaks like the wind -- a whisper, a nudge -- so it's not like Peter had a pillar of fire leading him through this experience. Yet Peter gained control over his fear and his doubts and chose to obey. This is a gigantic lesson for all of us and is one of the great keys to our Christian maturity -- making the choice to obey despite our confusion, fear, or doubts.
Questions to Ponder:
So often we feel the need to know all the answers before we act. Unfortunately, God does not always make sure we "feel comfortable" before He asks us to obey. In fact, the Bible is full of stories of faith -- people just like you and me who followed God despite their fear and doubt. What would it take for you to have a "Biblical" quality of faith? What steps do you need to take to follow God in spite of your fears and doubts? How could you do that today?
Thought for today June 12, 2018: Topic - Strict Obedience During Your Days of Confusion
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 12, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 12, 2018
Rating:
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