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Acts 11:1-18
11 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction.
These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell silent.
And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
We went on the Original Dolphin Watch for South Padre Island today. Nothing puts your life in greater emphasis for size than to grasp the size of the ocean or to be right next to a huge Go-To-Ocean-Sized-Ship. The dolphins, up to 15 of them, rode the bow of the ship. It's the dolphin version of surfing. Usually, we had a set of perfectly paired teenager dolphins. And when the Larger Adult Dolphins joined in occasionally, then all the younger dolphins were so enthused as to begin to leap perfectly and play - joining in.
The Vastness of God.
The risk of faith.
Peter risked alienating the Jews. Peter risked his life near the Temple.
The three men were risking their lives.
The incredible vision risked the new Christian way. Just as the 72 disciples turned back from Jesus Himself when Jesus explained the future of Communion. The 72 Disciples were horrified at the idea of eating a body and drinking blood.
It's difficult for us to imagine how threatening the times were for these men. Did they understand how much they were changing the world and the faithful? We toss this out as the Book of Acts. How terrifying it would have been to have been part of the New Heaven and new earth Jesus understood to be happening.
Father God sent visions, angels, light for the path. How Lovely. The faithful believe this to be true. Ok, yes - this is true. God was holding the hand of these men.
Coincidence. Guidance. Help. Comfort. The mannerism of the Holy Spirit - sending His comfort for His Way. John 21. If we knew all the ways God supported Jesus in His ministry - the books of the world - would not be able to count all of the Help God our Father gave Jesus.
We all want to be part of God's Wonders. I know I do - every day. Probably as each of these men passed on - Hebrews 11 would agree - these men had an idea their lives had been part of a Godly blessing. And no idea how their lives and the Actions of God would be understood on the earth for millenniums.
St. Augustine gave such comfort. He told us our lives are small. We will care for the people God has given us. Yet, in being diligent in tired evenings, in evenings where we are worn out, when we feel feverish. In communicating with patience. When we don't put up with bad behavior in the idea of correction and righteousness - to make the path more for God earnestly - we are making a way for the generations yet unborn.
Just as Billy Graham stood in football stadiums - turning out the lights and demonstrating an entire huge football stadium can see one candle. When we are pulling for Jesus. When we want our people to have Jesus - we are doing something we have no idea what God could do with our small lives.
With God all things are possible. A day spent pleasing God - can bless our family for generations. Even in realizing we are quite small and God is Magnificent.
Abba, Our Father,
We ask You for Your Blessing. Your Spirit gives Life. You are able to do far more than we could ask or imagine.
Guide us to be on Your Path. In Your Love, we will be Taught and Strengthened. The Will of God is Hope and Future.
For us, for our loved ones, for the people You have given us.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Revelation 4:8
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him
who is able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask
or think,
according to the power at work within us
1 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
In our God, we will be blessed to Trust. Amen in Jesus Christ.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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