All the Keys to the Doors

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ALL THE KEYS TO THE DOORS

Acts 10:23-33

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." 27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

NIV

Before we get into Peter's message for the people, and how he realized through his encounter with God and the sheet full of animals, that all the people should hear the good news. What is interesting is how Cornelius was so willing and ready to accept a message about God, and how they revered Peter as a man of God. All those who were friends and family of Cornelius all knew they were in the presence of God and ready to listen to everything the Lord commanded Peter to tell them. This is the first key here, to recognize being in the presence of the Lord. The second key is to listen to everything the Lord commands the speaker to say. The third key is for whoever the speaker is, the teacher, or preacher, must be open to hearing from the Lord and discerning what the Lord commands him to say, which leads to the fourth key which only comes from the mind of man, and may, at times, seem to be correct and within the sound doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, but is may not be exactly is what is needed to be heard by the listeners. The fact remains, that if everyone recognizes they are in the presence of the Lord and are in step with the Spirit, the speaker and listener will be completely in communion with each other, because the exact need of the hearer, is relayed forthrightly by the speaker. This is what happened between Cornelius and his family and friends and Peter. We will see that Peter makes the point that God does not show favoritism and desires that all hear and accept the truth regarding the kingdom of heaven, which is the good news about Jesus. Because we have already accepted that truth, we are no longer hearers of the good news but should be the speakers. However, as in Peters's situation, he was invited to come and speak that which God commanded him to because God opened the door in the heart of Cornelius. We too need to be aware when we are invited to speak. This may not be an outright open, verbal invitation, but if we are keeping in step with the Spirit, he will reveal those who are wanting to be a hearer of glad tidings, of good cheer, and that is the good news about the kingdom of heaven, which we have been commanded to speak about. When everything is put in place by the righteous right hand of God, all will fall into proper alignment. All the keys will work and all the doors of people’s hearts will be opened.