“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:1-6).
Today’s Morsel: One of the things about life is that we can often see what others ought to do, but we sometimes have trouble following through with what we ought to do. We can become judgmental and critical with our followers who do not communicate with us, but at the same time, we refuse to communicate with those over us. We can be stern with those under us who do not meet standards, but at the same time violate them ourselves. When the angel appeared to Cornelius, he told him to send to Joppa, for Simon Peter, and he would tell him what he ought to do. Cornelius did not delay but sent for him. And when Peter came, he said, “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:42-43). He told him what he ought to do. He told him to believe in Jesus Christ and he would receive remission of sins. Cornelius was already a believer, but his sins were not remitted. He needed his sins covered in the blood of Jesus. And what was the results of him believing on what Peter told him he ought to do? “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:44-48). Even though Cornelius was a believer in Christ, he stilled need to be born-again of the water and the spirit as salvation is much more than just believing. Are you a doer or merely a hearer of the word?
Sing: If you will come to Jesus Christ today, He’ll take your sins away, He’ll take your sins away. And keep you happy in His love each day, He’ll take your sins away.
He took my sins away, He took my sins away, and keeps me singing every day! I’m so glad he took my sins away, He took my sins away.
Thought For Today: Do you know what you ought to do?
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