Relatives and Friends

May 17

(Acts 10:24 NIV) “The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.”

(Mark 5:18-20 NIV) ““As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  {20} So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.””

(John 1:40-42 NIV) ““Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. {41} The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). {42} And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).””

When Cornelius found out that Peter was coming to his house, he didn’t try to keep it from his friends and neighbors. He put out a press release, put up posters, and phoned everyone he knew. Well, not really, but he did call together his close friends and relatives. Today we have believers who barely mention their church in conversation with friends and relatives. They don’t want to offend anyone. They act as though they were ashamed of Jesus and the church. They keep their faith and the good news to themselves. Not Cornelius! He put the word out. If there had been radio in his day, there would probably have been a commercial with “BE THERE!” at the end. We laugh, but if the gospel really is for everyone, why don’t we act like it? If the message of Jesus really is life changing stuff, why wouldn’t we want to expose our friends and neighbors to it in any way we can? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day