DAY #195: Acts 9:32-10:8

Peter was returning from Samaria to Jerusalem with John. He came to Lydda, a predominantly Gentile community about twenty-five miles west of Jerusalem. Lydda was a fairly large town and commercial center at the intersection of highways connecting Egypt to Syria and Joppa (on the Mediterranean coast) to Jerusalem. The gospel likely came to Lydda as a direct result of the mass conversion at Pentecost or from those who had fled the Jerusalem persecution.

Joppa was only about ten miles northwest of Lydda. To go and find Peter and bring him back would have taken these two men six to eight hours. Once located and presented with the need in Joppa, Peter returned with them. The text indicates the haste with which all this was accomplished. Arriving, Peter was immediately ushered to the upstairs room. There he met a group of mourning widows. Clearly, this woman’s death was a major blow to the church in Joppa.

After getting down on his knees to pray, Peter told Tabitha to get up. Then she opened her eyes. Peter presented this back-from-the-dead saint to her overjoyed friends. As a result of this startling miracle, many citizens of Joppa believed in the Lord. Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, at the home of Simon, probably in order to teach the people more thoroughly the full implications of the gospel.

Caesarea was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of Joppa. The largest and most important port city on the Mediterranean in Palestine, Caesarea was the capital of the Roman province of Judea. This was the first city to have Gentile Christians and a non-Jewish church.

The Roman army officer in this passage, had to return soon to Rome. His conversion may have helped to spread the gospel to the empire’s capital city. Because of frequent outbreaks of violence, Roman soldiers had to be stationed to keep peace throughout Israel. But most Romans, hated as conquerors, did not get along well in the nation. As an army officer, Cornelius was in a difficult position. He represented Rome, but he lived in Caesarea. During Cornelius’s years in Israel, he had been conquered by the God of Israel. With a reputation as a devout man, Cornelius was respected by the Jews. Cornelius’s faith had hands—he was regularly involved in activities that displayed his interest in serving others.

God told Cornelius to send for a man named Simon Peter because Peter would give him more knowledge about the God he was already seeking to please. Cornelius was directed to Joppa to find Peter. Cornelius obeyed the message of the angel and sent his most trusted aides to get Peter. Three men were sent—two household servants and a devout soldier, the latter of whom is described as one of his personal attendants. Obviously, the godly character of Cornelius had made an impact on those closest to him. The word used to describe Cornelius’s account of what had happened is the word from which we get the term “exegesis” (exegesamenos), meaning to “explain” clearly and in detail.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

While it would be amazing to see believers in mass get serious about growing in their faith and sharing their faith and serving others and tithing and reading the word and memorizing the word and studying the word, it takes just a few who are sold out committed to the things of God to see revival happen. One Roman soldier - one woman who experienced the healing power of God and the world was never the same again.

Lord, raise up men and women of courage and true, genuine faith. Men and women on fire for You. Men and women who won't compromise. Men and women who will not allow anger and bitterness to rule their lives. Men and women who are quick to forgive and quick to see reconciliation. Men and women who will spend their lives on one great thing - spreading the gospel.

Oh Lord, build those kind of men and women, children and students at COV.

"Over a decade ago, we got word at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards had both been killed in Cameroon. Ruby was over 80. Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: To make Jesus Christ known among the unreached, the poor, and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing 80 years old, and serving at Ruby's side in Cameroon.

The brakes failed, the car went over the cliff, and they were both killed instantly. And I asked my people: was that a tragedy? Two lives, driven by one great vision, spent in unheralded service to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ -- two decades after almost all their American counterparts have retired to throw their lives away on trifles in Florida or New Mexico. No. That is not a tragedy. That is a glory..

I tell you what a tragedy is. I'll read to you from Reader's Digest (Feb. 98, p. 98) what a tragedy is: "Bob and Penny... took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells."

The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be "I collected shells. See my shells." THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream.

Don't waste your life. It is so short and so precious. John Piper grew up in a home where his father spent himself as an evangelist to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. He had one consuming vision: Preach the gospel. There was a plaque in his kitchen for his growing up years. It read, "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Oh Lord, my heart cries out to You this morning - let me spend my life on one great thing - advancing the Gospel of Christ.