More of God’s Surprising Work

“Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” — Acts 10:20 What happens when you hear God give you an instruction? You do what he says.But what if God tells you something, and it doesn’t seem to make sense?In Acts 10 we read about a strange dream Peter had, and then we see the larger picture God was pointing to when he sent Peter that dream. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, believed in God and gave generously to people in need. And God wanted Peter to tell Cornelius and his family about salvation in Jesus Christ. It’s a sign that Christ and his gifts were intended not only for Jews but also for Gentiles (non-Jews), including Roman commanders!God brought Cornelius’s representatives to Peter soon after Peter received his strange dream. And to make things crystal clear, God told Peter to go with them, for God had sent them. Peter learned that the men had come from a Roman centurion, a person he would not normally associate with, according to the Jewish law. But the point of God’s strange command became clear as Cornelius and many other Gentiles came to faith in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 10:23-48).What will you learn today if you obey God’s command, even if it seems confusing or challenging? Watch carefully to see what God is doing. Take your time. It often takes us a while to see where God is building his new creation. God, thank you for bringing your salvation in Christ to all peoples! Give us hearts to obey and eyes to see you at work— even through us—in unexpected ways. Amen.