Happy Tuesday, Everyone! God is with us and He continues to sustain us. This week we will be reading Acts chapter 10. Chapter 10 gives insight on Jesus making unclean things clean. Enjoy today’s devotion and have a wonderful day.

Bible verse:

“In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer^[a] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. ² He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. ³ One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. ⁴ Cornelius stared at him 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! ⁵ Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

⁷ As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. ⁸ He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.” – Acts 10:1-7 NLT

Reflection

Last week we read about Simon the tanner and Peter staying with the tanner. Peter’s stay with the Simon the tanner was significant because a tanner according to Dictionary.com is a person who tans hides – makes leather from animals. In the Old Testament, Jews were considered to be unclean until the evening if they touched or carried an animal carcass (see Leviticus 11:39-40). However, Peter stayed with Simon the tanner. – Jesus was doing something new.

Today we are introduced to Cornelius – a devout God fearing man who generously gave to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

• Cornelius saw a vision of an angel of God.
• He was informed that his prayers and gifts to the poor had been received as an offering.
• He listened to the angel’s instructions.
• He sent for Peter.

Sisters and brothers, Jesus did something new that benefited both the Jews and Gentiles (us). We don’t know from these verses what Cornelius had prayed for or what gifts he had given to the poor, but we know that they were received by God as an offering.

As we learn more in chapter 10, let us remember at least these few things today:

• God hears our prayers – pray regularly.
• Listen for God to speak to you – trust God to do new things in your life and in your current situation.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for today. Thank you for an opportunity to present our request to you and for the ability to freely speak to you. Lord, even as we pray we ask that you begin to speak to us. Lord, we want to be still in your presence, hear your voice and follow your instructions. Lord, continue to work in our hearts 💕 and minds to listen and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Lord, we seek you today for wisdom and understanding. Lord, help us to understand what is being explained/told in Acts chapter 10. Help us to see and believe that you have made all things new – what was once unclean your sacrifice on the cross and raising up from the grave has made clean. Lord, thank you for saving us and for making us clean. Lord, we pray for the poor (e.g., financially or in spirit) and ask that you provide for them. Lord, you know their needs – remind them of your presence with them. Lord, we pray for those who are financially able and ask that you move upon their hearts to continue to poor out blessings on those in need. We pray for the physically able, Lord prompt them to continue their work or help with those who are poor or have found themselves in difficult financial situations. Lord, continue to heal us and be with us. In Jesus name, amen.

Do you have a prayer request? We would love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to: prayerrequest@maryewhiteministries.com

Bible Reference: http://biblegateway.com

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