Originally posted: 1/21/2020
They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you,” (10:22).
God is at work, palpably, purposely and powerfully. He is advancing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His children are learning and developing their understanding that everything is under His watchful eye and that He Divinely Directs the progress of His Church.
Consider His Divine Direction
- His Divine Direction Dispatches who He wills.
- And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;” (10:5).
- His Divine Direction Defines what is holy.
- Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy,” (10:15).
- His Divine Direction Determines where to go.
- While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself,” (10:19-20).
- His Divine Direction Disposes hearts to hear.
- Cornelius said, “…and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord,” (10:30-33).
- His Divine Direction Delegates without partiality.
- “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him,” (10:34).
- His Divine Direction Decrees the message of the gospel.
- And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins,” (10:42-43).
- His Divine Direction Distributes the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also, (10:44-45).
How do we respond to His Divine Direction?
We must ever remind ourselves He is always working, always Divinely Directing to accomplish His will.
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps, (Proverbs 16:9).
We can trust and hold on to our hope in His Diving Direction, for He is faithful.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (Hebrews 10:23).
And even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful… that is Who He is.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself, (2 Timothy 2:13).
Let us learn from Cornelius, an outsider, who had set his heart and mind on seeking God; and then wholeheartedly trusted in His Divine Direction for himself and his family.
May we wholeheartedly seek Him; and as He reveals His Divine Direction, may we respond, like Cornelius, in immediate obedience,
“So I sent for you immediately…” (10:33).
May we trust His timing, and with undivided attention await with expectation to receive His Divine Direction.
“…Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord,” (10:33).
We can trust His Divine Direction in our lives. Let us grow in our confidence as we depend on Him to Divinely Direct our hearts towards His greatest goal… loving Him and remaining steadfast in Christ.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ, (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).