Anticipation
An overall good day, Father, and I thank You for Your guiding hand. May I have a listening ear attuned to Your Word. Amen.
Acts 10:24-33 (<<click here to read the passage)
When I was in high school, way back when, Heinz came out with an ad promoting their ketchup.
Heinz ketchup is known for being thick and pouring very slowly – and remember this was way back before squeeze bottles when it was sold in glass bottles. The ketchup took quite a while to come out. In the commercials, a person would be shown waiting as the ketchup slowly came out of the bottle. The chorus of Carly Simon’s Anticipation played in the background. The iconic ad has led many to think of the song as “The Ketchup Song.”
The lyrics of the commercial
Anticipation, anticipation,
..Is makin’ me wait
As I read through today’s passage, I couldn’t help but think of anticipation…not the ketchup kind, or the Carly Simon kind, not something that is here today and gone tomorrow, but the genuine kind that brings the best reward of all – a relationship with Jesus Christ – and that is for all eternity!
This short portion of Scripture begins and ends with palpable anticipation. Cornelius had sent a small entourage to find and bring Simon Peter back. Verse 24 says,
They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. v24
His anticipation was high! He was not going about normal daily business; he was waiting so that he would be ready for whatever was to come without a moment’s delay. And it was important to him, so much so that he called all of those close to him to join him for this highly anticipated revelation of God.
After mistakenly falling at Peter’s feet (…Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” v26), he told Peter the story of his interaction with the man in dazzling clothes and that he had sent for him at once.
Cornelius concludes what he had to say with, “Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” v33 NLT
Anticipation! Palpable anticipation!
This was what was important…nothing else. Press “pause” on life, this is what really matters! Stop. Listen. Yield. God has brought us all together for the distinct purpose of fulfilling all we have strained to know!
Lord Jesus, we have become so jaded and sadly our spiritual appetite has become satiated with the mundane and mediocre. Heighten our spiritual cravings for the smorgasbord of Your creation! Oh, Lord, may it be so! Amen!
Apr 4th, 2022, Mon, 4:52 pm
That’s Not Good Enough…
Reel me in Father. My mind is going in different directions and I need to focus on You, allowing things to get back in order. Amen.
Acts 10:17-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
I appreciate Tyndale House, the publisher of my Life Application Study Bible. If you have read the MoreThanUseless blog for any length of time, you know that I often refer to it. Sometimes an application note hits a chord in my heart and speaks to me. Oft times it will bring to life a thought that had never crossed my mind before, and then my heart and mind run with it. And best of all, God uses it to teach and direct me!
This passage, about which I have already written, has one more thing to say to me…and to my readers as well.
One thing we have to address with all seriousness is the fact that many seriously religious people strive to do all the right things. Just as Cornelius, they are religious, devoted, generous, respected, and sincere…and though those are wonderful attributes, in and of themselves, they are simply not good enough. Those things can bring us closer to God but without one key ingredient in the mix, we will still be spiritually separated from God.
The gospel – the good news – of what Jesus accomplished by His death and resurrection is that key ingredient that our salvation depends upon. Without understanding that truth, we are lost. And no matter what we do, no matter how much we work at pleasing God, it is a fool’s errand. We must understand, acknowledge, and accept, by faith, Jesus’ sacrifice and the salvation that He freely extends. That is our only hope.
But as I spoke of in last Wednesday’s post – To Know and To Be Known (click on it to read it) – God doesn’t leave us hanging. We are too precious to Him to ever do that! He fervently pursues us not wanting any to be lost! Remember that old familiar verse, John 3:16?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
There alone is our redemption, but we must be careful not to equate earnestness with righteousness before God. We are brought into right standing with God by faith in Christ alone.
So, the questions that we each must address are, have you trusted in Jesus? Are you sharing with others – even those who seem religious – the truth that Christ is the only way to God?
Lord Jesus, fill us with Your love. May we seek out Your wisdom. May we first acknowledge the truth for ourselves and then may we – again in love – never give up sharing the truth with others so that all who are lost may come home. Amen.
Apr 3rd, 2022, Sun, 7:46 pm
Now Listen…
Father, many things are wearing on me on many different levels. I would pray for a season of refreshing from You. May I once more partake of the springs of living water! Amen.
Acts 10:17-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
I shared this story a while back, but it fits well here, too.
I remember when Massey was just a little guy, and something would upset him to the point of hot tears flowing down his tiny face. On more than one occasion we would slip into a public restroom stall giving me a chance to get down on his level and get him to just breathe. He wasn’t in trouble, but I would say, “OK, Mass, just take a big breath.” With all the emotion still playing through him, he would do so, a bit shaky at first but he just needed help getting himself under control. Once that happened, everything was cool.
How often does life just seem to get out of control for us? It can be overwhelming, for sure. As I referred to in my opening prayer, sometimes we just get worn out, and plain and simple…we need God!
I love the Amplified Bible’s translation at the beginning of verse 19 in today’s passage. It reads,
While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen…”
Can you picture the Father cupping Peter’s face in His hand, looking him square in the eye, and saying, “Now listen… Yeah, this is something totally new for you. I understand that you’re not sure what it’s all about but take a deep breath…trust me. Have I ever led you astray? …three men are looking for you. Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.” vs19-20 AMP
They all were on the cusp of an amazing movement of God. I would astound them all…and it was just the beginning!
Lord Jesus, calm our spirits. Wherever we may be, whatever we may be in the middle of, may we feel you cupping our small child-like faces in Your outstretched loving hand. May we hear Your comforting words of assurance. May we feel Your power. May we be overwhelmed not by our circumstances but by Your love. Amen.
Mar 31st, 2022, Thurs, 6:47 pm
Old Habits Die Hard
A beautiful day to finally open up the grill and help just a bit with supper. Thank You, Father, for the blessings of family and all they mean to me!
Acts 10:7-16 (<<click here to read the passage)
As the old saying goes, “Old habits die hard.” and a majority of us can relate to what it may mean for us personally. If you’re in the habit of eating more than you should, it’s hard to stop. Many struggle with the habit of smoking, and the friends I have that have done so, would verify that it was probably one of the most difficult things they’ve ever done!
The church is not exempt from habits that are hard to break. I’ve mentioned before that I grew up in a very conservative environment. One thing we didn’t do was to play any kind of games that involved playing cards – you know the ones with hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. As some would have said at the time, “They’re wicked!” We’ve since gotten beyond that notion, realizing that the cards themselves are not wicked, nor are many of the games associated with them. (I have known many people who have had many wonderfully fulfilling moments with friends and family playing a wide assortment of card games!)
The problem that arises in this example, in particular, is when gambling becomes too big a part of the picture and then becomes nigh impossible to overcome. Many lives have been ruined because of these kinds of issues. But I have never known anyone to lose everything playing euchre or penny poker even!
Doctrinal issues can become problematic as well, even things that are biblically sound. Peter had issues, as can be seen in today’s passage.
A sheet full of all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds was let down before him and a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” vs12, 13 NLT
Peter’s retort was quick, and he said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.” v14 AMP
The Old Testament Law laid out several prohibitions regarding what a devout Israelite could not eat. Most of us know that to this day, Jews will not eat pigs, but they also avoid shellfish (shrimp and the like), no insects (most of us wouldn’t have a problem with that one), and interestingly enough, they cannot have milk and meat in the same meal!
Peter was not overly educated in such things but that was one thing every “good” Jew knew to abide by.
But the voice just as quickly replied, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” v15 AMP And for good measure, this happened three times in quick succession.
The scope of God’s Kingdom was broadening, and though the Jewish followers of Jesus found it hard to believe, what they would have rejected was now to be embraced. Old habits die hard but when God sends a directive, we must obey! And as one Gentile amongst millions, I am glad Peter did as he was told!
Mar 30th, 2022, Wed, 7:27 pm
To Know and To Be Known
Father, enable me to keep focused on the task at hand – walking closely by Your side. May I have a listening ear and a willing heart. Amen.
Acts 10:1-8 (<<click here to read the passage)
We all know that life can be difficult…and for some of us, that is the understatement of our lives! Many of us struggle but as I’ve been told on numerous occasions, you can always find someone worse off than you. But believe you me, it is most certainly not a competition!
Regardless of where we find ourselves along the continuum of life, we must never forget that as followers of Christ, God is always by our side – with us, guiding us, encouraging us, all with a love that only He can live out in and through us!
But we also must never forget that though that is of utmost truth, that God is also diligently pursuing all those who do not know Him. Though some want nothing to do with Him as well as many who don’t believe in His existence at all – we must understand that that does not deter our loving Father. (Never give up praying for friends and loved ones, don’t give up on them for God surely hasn’t!)
But then there are also individuals in every age who want so desperately to know God – the true God. They strive to live out everything they can think of to follow Him, though they too do not know Him. And though they do not realize it, God is there for them as well, working behind the scenes, if you will, setting things in motion so that He may be known by them. He is eager and exuberant to be known!
Cornelius, the Roman centurion in today’s passage, fit into that last category. One of the many features of my Life Application Study Bible is the Personality Profiles which highlight key characters throughout the text. The one regarding Cornelius states,
Four significant aspects of Cornelius’s character are noted in Acts: (1) He actively sought God, (2) he revered God, (3) he was generous in meeting other people’s needs, and (4) he prayed. God told him to send for Peter, because Peter would give him more knowledge about the God he was already seeking to please.
Cornelius was doing all he knew to do to please a God he knew of but did not know personally. Even in his ignorance, he diligently sought out God and God instigated a connection!
The Apostle Peter was the key – though initially a somewhat reluctant one…but we’ll look at the rest of Cornelius and Peter’s story tomorrow!
Mar 29th, 2022, Tues, 6:12 pm