May 20 | Acts 10:34-48

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DAILY READING

Acts 10:34-48

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REFLECTION

Don't Stand in the Way of the Holy Spirit!

by Pr. Dave Mann

Acts 10 is a chapter that tells of the amazing work of the Holy Spirit. Before this event, no one could be baptized without first being a member of the Jewish community. To break through this sociological barrier, the Holy Spirit gave two key people their own supernatural visions.  The vision given to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, instructed him to invite Simon Peter to his home to share with him a special message. Peter received his own vision involving various kinds of ceremonially unclean animals. He was told to slaughter these animals and to eat them.  Peter protested because, as a Jew, he had never eaten anything prescribed as unclean. The Lord declared to Peter, “What God has called clean, do not call common.” The Holy Spirit gave him this same vision three times. This repetition indicated to Peter that the vision’s message was clearly from God. 

A short time later, the Roman emissaries sent by Cornelius arrived at Peter’s gate. When Peter saw these Romans, people whom he would normally shun, asking on behalf of Cornelius to hear the gospel, Peter’s heart was changed. He understood the purpose of his vision. He welcomed the Romans into the house and then went with them to Cornelius. Acts 10:34-48 is a summary of Peter’s gospel preaching.

During the announcement of the good news in Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his entire entourage. Peter recognized that the Holy Spirit was at work because he heard these Romans, new believers in Jesus, speaking in tongues. Biblically, speaking in tongues is one of different indications of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Other gifts of the Spirit are listed in various writings in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:14-11; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-12), as well as the fruit of the Spirit (Eph 5:25-26). 

When Peter saw that the Holy Spirit had descended upon the Roman soldiers, he was convinced that if God had accepted them as true believers, even though they were not Jewish to begin with, he could not stand in the way of the Holy Spirit (10:47-48). Peter ordered that the whole group should be baptized. This event, along with the ministry of the Apostle Paul, planting churches for new believers from different ethnic groups, paved the way for the gospel to be spread to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:9 & Matthew 28:16-20).

Aren’t you glad that Cornelius and Peter were obedient to the visions the Holy Spirit gave them?

PRAYER

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for convincing Cornelius and Peter to come together. Thank you for sharing your power and your gospel with all ethnic groups. Please show me the kinds of people I have considered “out of bounds” to the reach of the Gospel. I desire that you would use me to share the gospel with groups of people that my culture--yes, even the church--might consider out of reach. Surely, your Word desires that ALL people be given the opportunity to respond to the gospel, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

May 19 | Acts 2:1-21

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DAILY READING

Acts 2:1-21

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REFLECTION

God's Timing is Always Right

by Elaine Pierce

Fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, "God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven" came to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (Jews observe this sacred holiday today - it's called Shavout. Jesus' disciples were there, too, and the Holy Spirit came to them in vivid form: a violent wind, followed by tongues of fire. It had to be an incredible sight. Some of the observant Jews were "amazed and perplexed" (v. 12), but others ridiculed these unlearned Galileans: "They have had too much wine." (v. 13)

Isn't it interesting that both of these groups saw the same thing, and they had diametrically opposite reactions to what they saw? One group was awestruck; the other group was dismissive. Peter addressed both sides when he got up to speak. He recognized the skepticism of the jeering group: "These men are not drunk....It's only nine in the morning!" (v. 15) And he uses scripture that these Jews would be very familiar with to explain that what the prophet Joel foretold had come to pass in their very presence. (v. 17-21)

Do you need proof before you believe? Ask God to give you a heart that is open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and he will guide you even when you don't see a clear path ahead. He will reveal his plan in his timing, not ours. When you are faced with doubt, and we all are, ask him for faith. He will provide it, often in unexpected ways.

I doubt that the disciples thought that something special was going to happen at nine in the morning as they gathered together "in one place." Luke tells us in Acts 1:14 that they were faithfully worshiping their Lord:"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Consistent Bible study, prayer and worship are the building blocks that God uses to build our "faith muscles" so we are prepared for hard times, for challenges, and for tongues of fire and violent winds. Watch and be ready! Pentecost is here!

PRAYER

Lord, so often I doubt your timing, and I wonder if you are listening to my prayers. Help me day by day to trust you, to spend time with you, and to serve you. Give me a heart that falls deeper in love with you every day. Amen.

May 18 | 1 Peter 2:9-17

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DAILY READING

1 Peter 2:9-17

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REFLECTION

True Freedom

by Mary Alice McGinnis

How would you describe freedom? What word or phrases come to mind when you think about what it means to live in freedom?

The Oxford dictionary suggests these definitions:

“The power or right to act, think or speak as one wants without hinderance or restraint.”

For this definition they suggest these synonyms: prerogative, privilege, entitlement.

The next definition says: “Absence of subject of foreign domination.”

They suggest these synonyms in this case: independence, self-rule, self-determination.

The final definition in Oxford’s dictionary says: “The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.” These synonyms are suggested here: liberty, liberation, deliverance.

Suppose you have decided to go to a store and buy a goldfish. You bring the goldfish home, fill up the fish tank with water and ensure it has proper pH level. Then you add some plants, which will ensure the water is properly oxygenated. Then, you also add some rocks and a shelter for the goldfish to swim around and hide in. Got this picture in your mind?

Suppose that this goldfish decides he wants to be "free." How might that play out? What will happen if he decides that he wants to live “without the hinderance or restraint” of the walls of the fish tank. Maybe he might think, “I am tried of being subject to my master. I want to make my own rules and be independent.” So he jumps out of the confines of the fish tank to “freedom” only to find himself helplessly stranded on the floor, gasping for breath.

You as the loving master, gently pick up the floundering goldfish from the floor, and gently return him to the safety of the fish tank.

This is how today’s reading describes us: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” Wow! Language like this could make us feel pretty entitled, right?

But then Peter says, “so that…” In other words, for a purpose!! And what is that purpose? “To declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We have each gone our own way. We have looked for a worldly kind of freedom. We have searched for prerogative, privilege, entitlement. We are bent on our own independence and self-rule, resisting anyone whose restrictions try to tell us how to act, think or speak.

But what we thought would bring us freedom only lands us on the floor, grasp for breath. We find ourselves in the darkness of the deepest kind of slavery. We needed someone to liberate us, to deliver us to set us TRULY free.

Peter invites us to “Live as free people . . .” Not under the cloak of evil and darkness, but as free people under the divine care and protection of our Master.

True freedom is not the liberty to do as we please. It is the power, through Jesus’ redemption of our identity as His beloved, to live as we were meant to live.

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that you have redeemed me! You have claimed me as Your own special possession. I am no longer a slave to darkness, I have been set free by Your grace! Help me to use my freedom, not indulge my own self-seeking pleasures, but to declare Your praises all the days of my life.