The Road To Pentecost #19

We are almost at the end of our Road to Pentecost.  I don't know about you, but I find that right near the end of a trip is the easiest time to get confused or turned around.  You've traveled so far and are ready to get to your destination, but you just can't seem to fin that street name.  It's at that time I am best served by pulling out those directions one last time to double check that I haven't missed a turn somewhere.  Remarkably , when I do, I magically find my way I find my destination within a few minutes or less.   Suddenly I'm transformed from a traveler to a vacationer. Today, we look one last time at planning for God and how it transforms us when we stick to it until the end.

Cornelius was a devout man.  He loved and feared God and gave to those around him (Mark 12:29-31).  Though he wasn't a Jew, he adopted their religion as his own because he saw the merit and truth inherent in their faith and their God.  According to the Old Covenant, he was following the plan.  However, he didn't know there was a New Covenant, a new plan. 

When God sent an angel to him to testify of this New Covenant, Cornelius didn't hesitate to act (Acts 10:7).  He was ready to receive the next direction God had for him.  While this was the revelation of the truth of doctrine an salvation, we can take to heart how Cornelius reacted,   God may have some specific things he wants us to receive in our lives and is waiting for the opportune time in our lives to reveal them to us.  Maybe it is a ministry opportunity, a witness opportunity, a relationship opportunity or a spiritual development opportunity.  Whatever it is God wants to give, we need to react like Cornelius did when the opportunity is given. 

Thought for the Day:

The path to spiritual development only requires that we act according to God's will when he reveals it to us.

Cornelius' transformation would be that he would be filled with the Holy Ghost and have the presence of God inside of Him rather than just serving a God on the outside.  As God changed him on the outside a sign came out of Cornelius.  He spoke with tongues.  This allowed him to be Baptized in Jesus Name and be fully brought into that New Covenant.  When we see God's fulfilled plan for us, it is going to change us on the inside.  That inside transformation is going to have an affect on our outside being that will fully establish us in what God wants for us.

Example:
Perhaps its that in your pursuit of God's ministry opportunity for your life, You are filled with a hunger and thirst after His righteousness that didn't quite exist before. That hunger and thirst will manifest not only within you, but also outside of you in your daily life.  You'll start living the righteous life.  Just like with Cornelius, the right people will take notice and you will see your ministry opportunity fulfilled. 

We can see our lives transformed inside and out.  All we have to do is stick to the plan God has for us.  When we do, God will make us complete according to His will.  The followers of Christ did this on the Day of Pentecost.  They were in Jerusalem like Christ commanded and they were in one mind and one accord, which was necessary.  Suddenly...(Acts 2:2)