In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today we read Acts 10. This chapter contains the instructions of God to Peter concerning sharing the Gospel with the Gentiles, or non-Jews. Jesus came FIRST to the nation of Israel as their promised Messiah, but He died ONCE, for ALL mankind (John 3:16-17 AMP)! Every person, Jew or non-Jew, who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior becomes a born again child of the Most High God! Every promise that the One, True God made to the nation of Israel is still in effect and He is still watching over His Word to perform it when His people dare to believe! Make sure that YOU are looking at the nation of Israel, the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people in the same way that HE does! Bless them, pray for them and the God of the Bible will bless YOU (Genesis 12:3)!
I want to speak of something else that is revealed in Acts 10 today! When Peter and the other believers from Joppa went with Cornelius's men to Caesarea, Cornelius came to meet them and fell down on his knees in worship before Peter. THIS is how Peter responded in verse 26:
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Get up; I myself am also a man.
It is a natural human tendency to express gratitude to someone who does something to bless or benefit us. It is ALSO a natural human tendency to carry it too far and begin to attach too much significance to an individual person rather than the God who sent them! Remember that praise and worship belong ONLY to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! On the other hand, it is ALSO a natural human tendency to take for granted the things that others do for us, especially when they do it consistently! This is also wrong! We are told this in 1 Corinthians 4:1:
4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ESV
4 So then, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. AMP
We also see this in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 and Galatians 6:6:
12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake.
6 Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].
So the lesson today is to make sure that we reserve our worship for the One, True God, BUT do NOT neglect the respect, honor and support that HE expects us to give to those whom HE has set in our lives to pastor, teach, instruct and support us! Make the needed adjustments in these areas and see some things YOU have been believing for begin to flow into your life! God's instructions are important or He wouldn't have given them! AMEN! Here is another new song from Hillsong Young and Free called "Pursue":Shalom in Him!
