S) "24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends."
Acts 10:24 (NASB)
O) This man was told by God that Simon Peter would give him a message, from God. What's his reaction? He doesn't figure, "Well, God said the message is for me, so I better meet him alone," nor does he doubt and think, "I know I'm ready to hear this, but maybe my friends and family just aren't ready," and neither does he worry, "Well, I'm kind of afraid of rejection, so I didn't want to put myself out there." Instead, he gathers everyone he loves in order to hear a word from The Lord, through Simon Peter.
A) Now, I might be tempted to rationalize, here. I mean, sure, if an angel of The Lord appeared to me, and told me to summon a man who has a word from The Lord... but that's just a convenient excuse. I truly believe God called my family to the church we attend. Everything fell into place as we hoped. Everything. As for the word? I know that week-in and week-out, our pastors preach directly from the Bible. It doesn't get much more "from God" than His written words. So then, I have no excuse. I need to start inviting friends and family to church.
P) Father, give me courage. There are too many people I love, who don't know who You really are. They don't know that You are slow to anger and full of lovingkindness. They don't know that You are a Deliverer. They don't know that You give rest to the weary and that You bind up the brokenhearted. Give me courage to invite them to church, and trust that You will handle the rest. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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