Just Obey!
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Acts 10:24-48 and Psalm 16:1-11 (NIV)
(Wilson Tan from Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was devout and God-fearing and he obeyed God’s command to bring Peter to Caesarea without question. Peter also obeyed God and went to meet Cornelius. The backgrounds of these 2 men could not be more different; Cornelius was a wealthy military man and a Gentile while Peter was a poor Jewish fisherman turned preacher. Nonetheless, Peter came as a humble messenger to assure and proclaim the Good News of Christ and that His salvation was universal and everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 10:43), Jew or Gentile alike. Then, in accordance with God’s plan, the Holy Spirit came to all who heard the message and demonstrated that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even to the Gentiles.
OBSERVE:
Cornelius and Peter did not allow their diverse cultural and societal backgrounds to stop them from coming together to do God’s Will. No doubt both men had questions in their minds and it was not entirely clear to them what God was trying to achieve by bringing them together but they simply exercised faith and obeyed. Psalm 16:7,8 also reminded me that I should seek God and His will first before making any plan. I would usually make my own plans and then ask God to bless them. Thinking about God’s way of living gives me insights to live in a way which God desires.
APPLY:
I must be aware that I may have preconceived notions that may be preventing me from availing myself to how God and the Holy Spirit may use me to fulfil His Will. I am assured that God will never abandon me but will fill me with joy and eternal pleasures (Psalm 16).
DO:
To have child-like faith to seek after God’s nature, to love Him and simply obey Him!
PRAY:
Father, help me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and all these things will be given to me as well. Therefore, I should not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Amen.
