Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “God’s Amazing Grace” – Thursday, 5 June 2014 - Scripture: Acts 10:1-8

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “God’s Amazing Grace” – Thursday, 5 June 2014 - Scripture: Acts 10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3 At about the ninth hour of the day,[a] he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?”

He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6 He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside. [b]

7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Footnotes:

a. Acts 10:3 3:00 PM

b. Acts 10:6 TR adds “This one will tell you what it is necessary for you to do.”

“God’s Amazing Grace” by Bill Manning

Cornelius (Acts 10:1ff.) was a good man. Admittedly, that is a remarkable statement since he was one of the hated Roman soldiers stationed in Israel to police the Jews. What is amazing in the story of Cornelius is that this man of great influence had influence with God! Luke says God took notice of Cornelius because of his prayers and gifts to the poor (v. 4b). Here was a man who had no knowledge of the law, yet God was aware of his righteous acts. Paul wrote, “when [those], who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, . . . They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts” (Romans 2:14a, 15a). This is an example of God’s prevenient grace.

Prevenient grace is that grace which is experienced before a person comes to Christ. It comes into the life of every person to draw them to God.

• Think of ways God’s love reached out to you before you knew Him.
• Remember when you experienced God’s goodness while you were far from Him.
• Celebrate that God cared for you and moved toward you before you responded to Him.

Hymn for Today:

“All Because of God’s Amazing Grace” by Stephen R. Adams copyright 1971 by Pilot Point Music, Box 41927, Kansas City, MO 64141. All Rights Reserved.

1. Amazing grace - O how sweet the sound

That saved a poor sinner like me!

Tho’ once I was lost, yet now I’m found;

Tho’ I was blinded, now I see!

Refrain:

And it’s all because of God’s amazing grace!

Because on Calv’ry’s mountain He took my place!

And some day, some glorious morning,

I shall see Him face to face,

All because of God’s amazing grace!

Thought for Today:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.” (Jesus, John 6:44)

Prayer Needs:

Many people in Cameroon will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

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