Sunday, July 24, 2005

Historic Breakthrough I've been reading through the book of Acts and once again I felt really awed by the events of acts chapter 10. it is easy to forget how great a breakthrough Peter's visit to Cornelius was. As Peter said he was wrong for a Jewish man to associate on a social level with a non-Jewish person. Jesus told his disciples "go and make disciples of all the nations". Even with such clear instruction Peter and the other apostles were not obeying Jesus' command. In the book of Acts, Chapter 13 is often thought of as the beginning of cross cultural missions work, but the more I think about it, I feel sure that chapter 10 is absolutely crucial for the unfolding of the rest of what happens in the book of Acts. Peter's vision and the events at the home of Cornelius laid the foundation for chapters 11 through 28. The crucial principle is given to us in Acts 10:28: He said to them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jewish man to associate or visit with anyone of another race. But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean. Hereafter, no race is to be considered impure or unclean, rather all nations, all races, people from every tongue are to be told the good news that there is a savior, who is Christ the Lord. From this small beginning the missions movement of the church arose. 7:56:53 PM    comment []

My Strength The morning before my eye surgery I was reading in the book of Jeremiah and asking God to give me a promise to claim during my surgery.  The surgery was done under local anesthetic, so I was alert during the two-hour surgery. the scripture I read that morning was from Jeremiah 16:19    "The LORD is my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. " I thought about this verse and prayed it back to the Lord during the surgery. 7:40:05 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Allan Smith. Last update: 9/21/2005; 7:23:08 AM.