And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Acts 10:30–33, ESV
A faithful prayer followed by multiple, faithful acts by those called by God is a powerful thing. Imagine all the necessary things that had to come into play for Peter and Cornelius to be brought together. It was neither luck nor happenstance, but both men being faithful to listen to God’s instruction. The outcome was that it brought the Word of God to many who otherwise may not have heard it. Without God’s instruction, Peter would not have entered the home of a Roman soldier, and the Roman soldier, had he not been praying and seeking God, would not have known to call on Peter. Both were faithful to listen to God and paid attention not only to the vision that God sent them both, but they were also attentive to what God had said. We are called to do similarly in our lives. We may not have vivid visions, but God gives clear instructions in His Word. We may not hear an audible voice, but God offers us opportunities and nudges us in our spirits. God will work in us in subtle ways but He may also move in very direct ways. It is important that we are faithful and not miss out on opportunities where we may be a light in the lives of others. As we seek to be obedient to God it can be amazing the opportunities we may find that arise in our lives. These opportunities may not always be comfortable like Peter being visited by soldiers to see their commander. I don’t believe that would be comfortable for anybody, especially if they were from an invading force that had, at times, been cruel in their treatment of my friends and neighbors. Yet we know that not only one heard the Gospel, but many were able to come to know the one, true God. Let us ever seek to be faithful and obedient to God’s calling and be a light to others who walk in darkness.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.