Unstoppable! 'Divine Direction' — Acts 10:4-6

Monday, May 29, 2023

Cornelius stared at [the angel] in terror. "What is it, sir?" he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore."

— Acts 10:4-6 NLT

Key Thought

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Cornelius, the messenger from God terrified him. As the heavenly messenger communicated God's message to him, he calmed down and received clear instructions on what he needed to do. He needed to find Simon Peter, the leader among Jesus' apostles. From Luke's story, we know God was simultaneously working on Peter's heart to make him ready to go with Cornelius' emissaries to share the Good News with him (Acts 10:9-16). Most of us today may think the amazing part of this story is the divine direction of a heavenly messenger. The beautiful truth of this story is that two men, Cornelius and Peter, from very different backgrounds and levels of society, both obeyed God's message! Both were faithful to God's instructions to reach out of their comfort zones and discover new life in Jesus. I wonder how many times I have shut down God's divine direction in my life because I didn't immediately obey what God wanted me to do.

Today's Prayer

O God, forgive me for the times I've ignored or missed your direction for my life because I doubted how I received the message. Open my heart to hear your truth and respond to your divine direction in my life when I receive it. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me recognize and follow your guidance rather than my selfish desires and restless impatience. I need your help to obey promptly. I want not only to seek and find you, but also to know, understand, and follow you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Proverbs 3:1-12
  • Matthew 7:24-27; James 1:22-25

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 10:4-6 NLT — Cornelius stared at [the angel] in terror. "What is it, sir?" he asked the angel. And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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