The "Why" of My Life

Scripture – Acts 10:1-8: ¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ²He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” ⁴Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. ⁵Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. ⁸He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Reflection: This is the start of a great story. (Be sure to read Sunday’s scripture.) Here’s a God-fearing man who was close to the kingdom of God. His heart was in a great place. He just had not heard about Jesus.

One day, in the middle of the afternoon, the Lord broke into his life with something new. He had a vision of an angel. And the angel gave Cornelius very specific instructions. (I love it when God does that.) Cornelius did what the angel said.

Now, he was not told what Peter was going to do. He was not told why he was to do this. That did not stop him from obeying.

One of the things I have learned in my lifetime is that Christ is the “why” of my life. When He calls me to do something, He’s got a reason. I don’t have to know what that reason is. I just trust it’s there, and on my good days, I obey.

When has Christ given you specific directions that didn’t fit into any larger picture you could see? How did you respond? How will you respond today?

Reading for Sunday, August 10, 2008

Scripture – Acts 10:9-16: ⁹About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹²It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” ¹⁴“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” ¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” ¹⁶This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.