Common Sense Reborn

Good morning Friends! I have been neglecting y’all in this opening commentary for the last week it seems. I’ve been busy, and I’ve fallen behind on the Daily Devotion (DD). I’m putting these together the morning of, which is not what I like to do. I prefer to be at least a week ahead, and then I would love to be at least a month or two ahead as I was when I first started this journey. I hope to see some breakthrough in the next couple weeks so I can get the DD ahead. There is promise of a guest writer as I am challenging my wife to take the lead for at least the month of July, which will be a wonderful experience for all of us! But until then, here’s some more great music and a look at one of my favorite chapters from the Book of Acts.

May 16

¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment…

…¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”…

…²¹Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for.  Why have you come?”…

…³⁴Then Peter began to speak:  “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right…

…Then Peter said, ⁴⁷“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.  They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”  ⁴⁸So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.  (Acts 10:1-48)

Did you see the significance of Acts Chapter 10 when you read it on Mother’s Day?  This is the story where we are finally included in the birth of Christianity.  You see, before Acts Chapter 10, everyone you were reading about were Jewish and converting from Judaism to be followers of Christ.  Then in Chapter 10, God uses a mighty Roman Centurion named Cornelius and Jesus’ rock, Peter, to finally bridge the gap between the Jewish faith and the rest of the world.  You see, the first half of the book of Acts was chronicling the birth of the Christian Church out of the Jewish nation and people.  From Chapter 10 on, Christianity is the religion of the ENTIRE world.  You see, long ago God created the Israel nation to demonstrate His power and authority to all His people.  The story of Adam and Eve are the Father and Mother of the Israelites.  They were not the first people of Earth, God had already created many different races all around the world.  But the Israels were His special people.  And throughout their history, God’s special children turned away from Him.  So God gave the Israelites a final opportunity for salvation and eternal life in the gift of Jesus Christ.  You see, Jesus was the one who opened a relationship between God and us.  Before Jesus, only the Holy of Holies could approach God in the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle temple.  But Jesus came and showed us that God wants a relationship, an intimate relationship, a relationship of a good, good Father and His beloved children.  And in Acts Chapter 10, Peter and the Way learn that Christianity is not for just the Jews, but for all of mankind.  You see, Jesus came to save the world, not just the Israelites.  You see, Jesus came to heal the sick, love the lonely, lift up the lame, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, and open the gates for all that believe in Him and follow His lead.  You see, the story of Acts Chapter 10 was written to include you and me.  And that is a beautiful sight to see, that the kingdom of heaven is open for all of the world.  Now it’s up to us to open the eyes of this current generation and allow them to see the truth and the light.  Jesus is the King of all Kings, the only source of love and freedom.  And Jesus wants us to also see only two laws and rules to focus on:  Love God, Love People.

Reading plan:  Acts 16

Deeper reading plan:  Esther 7,8

Prayer and meditation:  Pray for the sick, pray for the lost and their loved ones.  Pray for redemption for this lost world.  Pray for a reviving rattle to shake COVID off this planet.  And continue to pray for all those in medical professions, grocery stores, supply chain operators, first responders, and the amazing teachers still doing all they can to teach the students they love so much.  Pray for all the businesses trying to recover and keep their associates able to provide for their families.  Pray that the world can reopen without a surge of new COVID outbreaks.  And pray that the world has undergone a lasting change and the flame of revival has been lit!

Fitness challenge:  2.5 mile run for time!

Serve Day Challenge:  Serve, serve, serve.  Food banks are delivering more food than ever before.  They need donations and hands and feet to get food to needy families.