GENTILES
Today’s Reading: Acts 10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
The north public bath house ruins of ancient Caesarea. Herod, Pilate, and Cornelius may have visited these baths, but not Paul. He spent two years in prison here in Caesarea.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 10:44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
For a Roman of senior rank, it would’ve been customary to visit the bath house daily (pictured above). This daily blog bath “the washing of water by the Word” (Ephesians 5:26), will become a habit after a few days of disciplined reading.
This chapter should be, for we who are not born Jews, very, very important. This is where we get in on the blessings God promised to Abraham, and the blessings of the fulfillment of those promises in Jesus. Why would God choose this Roman Army Officer, Cornelius, to be the first non-Jew to receive Jesus? He was “devout,” a man of excellence in his behaviour. He and his household “feared God.” He “gave alms generously to the people,” and “he prayed to God always.” We don’t earn salvation by good works. Grace, and grace alone through faith, secures our eternal destiny. But our character and good works, as in this story, do serve to get special attention from God. Read more about non-Jews getting in on God’s provision of salvation in Ephesians chapter 2. Please check it out (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I’m so very thankful that as a non-Jew, I’m welcomed into Your family. May I never take Your care for granted. May my character be refined each day, and may this daily blog be a part of the process. You checked out Cornelius’ “memorial” and good things happened. I pray You’ll check out my offerings too. May the smile of Your approval be on my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Here is a question I want to ask Cornelius some day…”Were you the centurion whose servant Jesus healed as recorded in Luke 7:1-10? If that wasn’t you, Cornelius, please introduce me to this officer of whom Jesus said, ‘I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.'” One of the highlights of my life was to suggest to the senior officer corps of Ukraine that they make Cornelius their Patron Saint. I mentioned this in my blog on November 3rd (click here for the story in my “100 Personal Words”). I wonder also about the baptism of Cornelius, his family, and friends. Could it have happened in the bath house pictured here? I wonder, as well, if Peter was shocked when God interupted his preaching to pour out the Gift of the Holy Spirit on these Gentiles. I think so. Because, “They of the circumcision (Jews) were astonished, as many as came with Peter.” I was astonished to witness an interruption by God once in my years of preaching. Please God, do it again and again!
Yours to help each of us to receive all God desires that we should have for the purpose of serving Him effectively,
David
Yes Lord use me
I find such peace and joy in trying to live a Christian life. It has all the rules and regulations needed to make life meaningful and wholesome.
God truly is love.
What was your interruption u speak of in today’s blog Rev.?
Blessings fellow bloggers.
I got very confused in my life! I grew up with “Christian values” or at least we prayed at night time, went to church, parents and neighbours were nice to each other….I was a happy as a child, had a baby brother, parents loved each other…baby brother died in April at 2 1/2 years old of a deep, deep lung infection, mom was pregnant with 3rd child, this chld born 1 month after brother died…a boiling tea kettle scaulded my baby sister’s head, and life was never the same…I was only a child, didn’t understand…my illness was also starting around then …parents very grieved at loss of son, really never did recover from that..nearly lost the 3rd child with a deep burn to her head, than the drinking and verbal abuse started, then LIFE KICKED INTO REAL MOTION…I can remember thinking BUT I THOUGHT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND LOVE GOD…….then I started school, had a Bible study on Fridays in the good old one room school house, from a woman named Miss Snowball, (talked about this before) had a WONDERFUL teacher from grades 2-8, very supportive and caring woman, went to church, had grand parents, BUT there was alot of abuse in my home BUT had a good confirmation teacher, a Pastor, for 4 years, all this played a part BUT the violence and abuse, I didn’t understand, so, I thank God all these years later, I have forgiven everyone, I was NEVER sexually abused by my dad or grandfather or any uncles, very thankful for that but was verbally, physically and emotinally abused by my father; and one uncle liked to bully me…..my Mom told me at 33 that she really didn’t want me but when I was born, well, what else could she do? I later learned that one of my mom’s sister wanted to adopt me but my dad said “no”….it is all in the past, and I can say I am happy as a child of God, but there are certan issues I still have to deal with; a mental illness, a sleep disorder, and poverty….yes, we have the 10 commandments but I don’t know of anyone who has even kept the 1st commandment let alone all 10, that is why knowing about Jesus has become very comforting for me, He has taken all the grief for my sins, He has given me forgiveness, grace, mercy…and I can give Him everything I have and I trust He will provide all my needs…I believe that for me life is about thanking God over and over, talking to Him about everything, thanking Him again, more talking, sometimes walking, swimming, sometimes just looking at His beauty all around…and yes, I am thankful for the forgiveness God has granted me, and I am so thankful that He doesn’t keep track of my mistakes, and again, it’s about thankfulness…I am thankful for where I am at but I would not wish any of this on anyone…but I do believe that I have learend a few things, the most important thing has been that God is real, He does care, and miracles do happen! Please bear with me as I sometimes go way OVER the limit also! enjoy the blog and all the comments I also welcome all prayers. AMEN
God bless you, Sah! Praise God for your thankfulness in Him, despite the hardships you have endured; they have made you stronger, not bitter. Amen!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4
God bless u Sah. I’ve seen some of my own relatives come thru a difficult life and become sound citizens. Praise the Lord u love Him and are fashioning your life after Christianity. My heart aches for children who are abused and misused. Prayer is such a powerful tool in life. I’ll use it to ask God to help you Sah. You are never alone. Thank you so much for sharing.
thank you all so much for prayers….never stop…it means so much to me….tears are flowing down….thank you so very much …..children are abused right in your own neighbourhoods…it’s tragic! It’s funny but for the past 20 years I spend alot of time at the pool because God turned a broken leg into me learning how to swim and well….PRAISE THE LORD…..I swim alot and I HEAR THINGS, SEE THINGS, AND GOD PUTS SITUATIONS ON MY HEART concerning children in the community….and I just realized that maybe that is why He placed me there in the first place…there are not enough hours in a day to pray for the hurt and heartache I have seen done to children right in my area…..I sense it immediately and sometimes I share or not! Prayers are needed for single parents! For marriages! For restoration of relationships! thank you again for all your prayers and words of kindness and encouragement. blessings
I too watch for HIS astonishing moments. David, what was your astonishing moment when God surprised you? Your blog is wonderful and your reward will indeed be great, May HE continue to bless you in your service,Love and prayers, Billy and Mina
Thanks for such a deep blog post, today, David Mainse! God bless you, fine sir, and all the saints, at the start of a new week and month of December.
I am thine, oh Lord,
I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn nearer to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Fanny J. Crosby
1820-1915
Good miring Pastor David and fellow bloggers. My husband And I have just finished a two week vacation cruising from Spain across the Atlantic home, where we enjoyed FREE internet and so we were blessed to receive the blog each day.
I gave kept those in pray who have requested and add Allan now for the healing of his lungs, in Jesus’ name.
Beverlee, have you returned home yet? And are you getting stronger. Praying for Ross and Doreen as Ross begins more chemo. May The Lird hold uou
Oops. Mat The Lord hold you both on His Loving Arms.
Wow typing too fast…..good morning should be. Have kept in prayer
Strange things are happening. When I clicked on the link you indicated DM, on my Tablet, it came up in Arabic! Went to the computer and it was in English?!
Interesting question Pastor David about Cornelius…never thought of that before:
Whether this Cornelius could be the centurion whose servant Jesus healed. Jesus marveled at “such great faith”.
Peter certainly had much to learn about God’s love and purpose in a short period of time.
Thank you for your questions that give us food for thought.
What a Glorious day that will be when “The two will be One” in Christ Jesus,
Jew and Gentile!!