was the very reason Peter took witnes ses who could corroborate his every ac tion. When Peter arrived at Caesarea, Cor nelius came out to greet him, giving a most cordial welcome. As they en tered the house, Peter found many peo ple gathered together. Cornelius had called all of his relatives and friends to listen to the apostle’s words from the Lord. What a tremendous oppor tunity and rare privilege! Here was fruit ready for the plucking. The ser mon Peter delivered is recorded in vers es 34 to 43 of Acts chapter 10. This was a new experience for Peter. His previous contacts with Gentiles, like those of his Jewish contemporaries, were hostile. His purpose now, how ever, was to try to win these people to Christ. God accomplished His divine purpose in bringing these assembled people to a saving faith of His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. God wonderfully overcomes our own inadequacies and overrules our blunders. God interrupted Peter’s sermon in the middle of it and poured out 'His Holy Spirit on all those in Cornelius’ house. They were all con verted at that moment. The witnesses who had come with Peter from Joppa were amazed (verse 45). Our God is completely and wholly sovereign. He can do whatever He wants, any time He may desire. The Lord is not bound to follow our whims or our desires. We must come to the place where we are not surprised at anything God does. Our ways are not His ways. His thoughts are so infinitely higher than ours. Whatever He does is right, just, fair, equitable, pure and holy. Our part is to bow humbly before Him and to rejoice in what He accom plishes even though it may not seem to go along with what we like or expect. The poet has beautifully captured this entire thought in these words, What ere my God ordains is right, His holy w ill abideth.
a large city one day. The little boy bounced his ball as they went along. Suddenly, just as they passed a cock tail bar, the boy lost control of the ball. It rolled right through the door of the cocktail joint. The father told his little boy to stay outside while he went in to retrieve the ball. He had to crawl on his hands and knees as he sought to find it. While the boy was standing outside, one of the church VALLEY OF DESPAIR If you've floundered in the valley And you've failed to climb the hill;. If you've let the devil keep you From the things your life should fill; If you're drooping, pining, sighing Over failures in the strife. Oh, dear soul, look up to heaven, God can yet restore your life! Go before Him in repentance, Sorry you have failed so much; Tell Him you are longing, yearning For His mercy and His touch; Ready now for future service. Though it be an humble place; Ready where He leads to follow By His guidance and His grace. Don't give up for years of failure Don't despair because you're down; Just resolve to climb up higher, Reaching for a higher crown; Even if you never gain it, Still it's best to look ahead, Rather than to droop and languish For the past that's gone and dead. — Rev. Walter E. Isenhour gossips happened along. “Why Jim mie,” she said in a shocked voice. “Whatever are you doing standing in front of this terrible place?” The boy, in all innocence, said, “Oh, I’m just waiting for my daddy. He is inside!” You can imagine the results. Within a matter of hours the erroneous report was all over the church: “Mr. Jones left his little boy Jimmie outside of a bar while he went inside to get drunk.” Unfortunately this is somewhat typical of the sort of thing going on in so many of our churches today. Christian people jump to unwarranted conclusions, suspicious of each other, critical, and always finding fault. This
I w ill be still what ere H e does, And follow where He guideth. He is my God. So dark my road He holds me that I shall not fall Therefore, to Him I leave it all. 21
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