We will focus on the following verses 24 through 33.
27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.
28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,
31 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.” Acts 10:24-33.
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Today’s Scripture clearly shows that God prepared both Peter, the speaker, and Cornelius, the listener, for their encounter. And yet, we too often just think and just pray that God would prepare the preacher.
But, what does Scripture state about preparing the listener?
“Listen, O my people, to my instruction;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 78:1.
There is also the warning in Psalm 78:8 to not be like that generation in Israel, “… A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
But, we are not like that generation. Through God’s grace, we prepare our hearts to receive God’s Word. “As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1-2.
We clearly see in this Scripture the preparation by God for both Peter and Cornelius through the means of the visions that God gave to each of them.
We also clearly see in this Scripture the preparation for this encounter by Cornelius. “…Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. … As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.” Acts 10:24-27.
We also clearly remember the preparation by Cornelius for this encounter in the prior Scripture. Cornelius “…prayed to God continually.” Acts 10:2.
The Scripture for today concludes by showing the eagerness of Cornelius. “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.” Acts 10:33. Oh, that we would all be so eager to receive God’s Word!
What we don’t clearly see, but must trust Scripture, is all the preparations that God makes for both the speaker and listener, for all of us. From the very beginning of our lives, God prepares us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 Throughout our lives, God prepares us. “… God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. To the very end of our lives, God prepares us. “For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord–for we walk by faith, not by sight– ” 2 Corinthians 5:4-7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 