DAY 182

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

Job 20 & 21 and Acts 10:24-48

As I mentioned yesterday, today I wanted to focus on Acts chapter 10, an important moment in the early church.

Today we read the New Testament with an attitude that Jesus is for everyone…and He is, but that had to be worked out. Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter’s on, is the long awaited Jewish Messiah…of this belief the Apostles are clear. The question is whether or not Jesus is for the world. He has said exactly He is, but people have trouble hearing Jesus. Consider how many times He told them about going to Jerusalem and dying. They did not hear that very well. Jesus has not only told them He will give his life for the world, consider that Jesus interacted with Samaritans. His words and his actions didn’t sink into the Apostle’s consciousness. Up to this point the Apostles have been proclaiming the Gospel to the Jews…that is until a divinely appointed meeting takes place.

The meeting is between Cornelius, a devout man who feared God, and Peter. God tells Cornelius to send for Peter; meanwhile Peter is having a dream. In his dream Peter sees “unclean” animals that a good Jew would never eat. God says, “Eat!” Peter points out that these animals are unclean and common, to which God points out that nothing He makes is unclean or common. Peter goes to Cornelius’ home, proclaims the Gospel to them, and an amazing thing takes place, the Holy Spirit falls upon them – The Father’s Promise is given to the Gentiles. God: Father – Son – Holy Spirit is for all humankind.

If we listen carefully we can hear God’s voice speaking to Abraham back in Genesis 15…”I will make you the Father of many nations.” There is an old TV show where the character is famous for saying, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Countless verses in the Old Testament now opens up to all who realize that God has been planning this since before the foundation of the world was laid – He has been planning how to get you and me home.