Luke the physician wrote how two servants and a soldier of Cornelius went to Joppa to find Peter. After arriving at Simon's house where Peter was staying, they met Peter and said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words of you. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Peter took him up, saying, Stand up” where we read:
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
The verse begins, “But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up;” Luke began with the words, “but Peter” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and was one of Jesus' disciples” “took him up” or “lifted and raised Cornelius to a standing position”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Stand up” or “rise or be raised up from laying down”. Luke shared how “Peter” immediately told “Cornelius” to rise to a standing position.
The verse goes on to say, “I myself also am a man.” Luke continued with the words, “I myself” which means “I, Peter, my own self” “also am a man” or “even so and indeed exist as a male human being”. Luke shared how “Peter” told “Cornelius” he was indeed a “man” like him.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” would not allow “Cornelius” to “worship” him because he was a “man” just like “Cornelius”. This is a far cry from what many desire and expect today, however, “Peter” knew Jesus was the One to be “worshiped” and not any man. God is to be exalted by mankind, and because He loves people, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for their sins so they would not be separated from Him. Anyone who yields their life to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and when they understand who He is and what He alone is able to do, Jesus Christ is the only One worthy to receive all honor, reverence, respect, awe, glory and worship a person can give.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, “talked with him … and found many that were come together”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment