What Kind Of Christian Are You?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we continue the journey following the spread of the Christian faith and we learn a lot from the stories of Cornelius and Peter and Barnabas and Paul about what it means to be in unity in a movement of faith and the excitement associated with it. And what we learn is that God does not play favorites. Everyone regardless of intellect or culture can understand the cross. The story of Cornelius is particularly relevant. Cornelius was a Roman centurion who is considered by Christians to be one of the first Gentiles to convert to the faith. Cornelius receives a vision in which an angel of God tells him that his prayers have been heard, he understands that he is chosen to extend an open door to a Jewish Christian named Peter. The great diversity of all the people of this world would be affected by this action and that it effects each of us boggles the mind as to how unity might be achieved in our mess of humanity. What Kind Of Christian Are You?
Scripture: Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.” Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Acts 10: 30-35 (NRSV)
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
Acts 11:19-26 (NRSV)
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
John 10:22-30 (NRSV)
Message: Today we know that God does not respect our sense of privilege and that salvation is not through race but by grace. Simply put, God accepts all those who repent and confess their sins and then put their trust in Christ. We like his sheep are to hear the Shepherd’s call. And if we hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us through scripture and prayer, we are to come to Him like Cornelius did. But with all the great diversity in the world one must wonder how we will come together. Christianity is the one great super national movements in the world. And God has no favorites and there is no superior race or a group of people who have priority above and beyond others. So, the greater challenge to unity comes from within our own camps of Christians who will not eat of the Word and will not work in the vineyard and those who remain friends of the world and yet still claim to be Christians. There is a problem for those who will not yield to the Spirit. There is a problem with Christians too timid to take a stand and those too defeated to trust. Friends, we must have a victorious faith if we are ever to act in unity and overcome the world. Just as Jesus and the Father are one so too we need to be of one mind and body in Christ. And this is a battle fought from within.
Pray we realize the power of prayer is God’s power stepping into our life circumstances. Pray that our conversations with the lover of our life be as natural as breathing and as engaging as the name of God…the name of Jesus. Pray that our prayers of praise and rejoicing convey a sweet intimacy of God’s amazing love. Pray our prayers move us into a deep communion and a desire to seek only to please and do God’s will. Pray we realize that the Kingdom of God is within us. Pray for unfed Christians. Pray for lazy Christians. Pray for worldly Christians. Pray we are healed. Pray we are victorious. Pray we become one in the Spirit.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 