God Took the Initiative

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Daily Thoughts 

January 23, 2025

God Took the Initiative

And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42

Read: Acts 10:34-43         

This passage records Peter’s sermon in Cornelius’ home in Caesarea. Cornelius was a Gentile, a Roman Centurion, who was fed up with all the idolatry and wimpy little gods in the Roman Empire. He wasn’t a Jew, but he was attracted to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because of the positive influence of the Jews living around him in Caesarea. He was on the outside looking in, practicing the best he could faithfulness to the God of Israel. His openness to God opened the door for God to speak to Cornelius and arrange this meeting with Peter.

In just a few words, Peter displays his passion for Jesus and his belief that God’s plan of redemption for the entire world, first begun with the Jews, is now complete in Jesus: “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (v.43)

Cornelius’ hope in inviting Peter to his home was that he would be welcomed into the family of God through forgiveness and transformation. He was!

The Holy Spirit came to Cornelius’ household, just as it did on the day of Pentecost. A definitive statement that in seven years, Peter and the others were well on their way as witnesses for Jesus in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

My Takeaway: Two points captured my attention in today’s reading. First, the salvation of Cornelius and his household, began with God. God took the initiative through visions to both Cornelius and Peter. Secondly, God’s plan for Caesarea was fulfilled through the obedience of both Cornelius and Peter. As I pray for God to order my steps, I am asking for a sensitivity to His leading, especially when he wants me to witness for Christ.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.