Luke the physician wrote, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter”, and in chapter ten and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Lord told Cornelius that Peter, “shall tell you what you ought to do” where we read:
He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side:
he shall tell you what you ought to do.
The verse begins, “He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side:” Luke began with the words, “he lodges with one Simon” which means “Peter stays as a guest with a man who is called Simon whose name means a rock or stone” “a tanner” or “who is one who tans the skins or hides which were stripped off animals”, “whose house is by the sea side” which means “whose dwelling place, abode and habitation is beside the body of water known as a sea”. Luke shared how the “angel in the vision” told “Cornelius” that “Simon Peter” was living as a guest in the seaside home of a man named “Simon” who was a tanner of animal skins.
The verse goes on to say, “he shall tell you what you ought to do.” Luke continued with the words, “he shall tell you” which means “Simon Peter would instruct, guide and lead Cornelius” “what you ought to do” or “in what Cornelius was to do next”. Luke shared how the “angel” told “Cornelius” that “Simon Peter” who was staying with “Simon” the tanner by the seaside would instruct him and give him his next step of performance.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there was a process to the Lord's revelation of Himself to “Cornelius”. Each instruction given by the “angel in the vision” was to be followed, and the next step would be given after obedience to the first steps were observed. God is intentional in His plan to save mankind, and when He sent His Son Jesus to the world to die for the sins of everyone, the next steps for them are to humble themselves, ask for His forgiveness, turn from their sins and be willing to be used in His Kingdom and serve Him as their “Savior and Lord”. God loves everyone, and He extends a step be step process for being in an eternal relationship with Him. Let all who read these words observe the steps in “Cornelius'” life and realize God has a step by step plan for them as well.
Next time Luke shares how Cornelius calls, “two of his household servants”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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