Do You Obey God The First Time He Speaks? - Christian Perspectives
Three times the apostle Peter was involved in events where something happened three times. Two of those times the Lord was speaking to him. How many times does the Lord need to speak to you? Or do you obey God the first time He speaks?
But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. Acts 11:9-10
Toward the end of His life, Jesus told his disciples about His next trip to Jerusalem. He wanted them to know about His death and that he would rise from the dead. Peter pledged that he would be there with him and even die with him if he had to.
Jesus then revealed that Peter would deny Him three times and of course, Jesus was right. Then after the resurrection, Jesus specifically looked Peter up and confirmed his call to the ministry. Jesus then asked Peter if he loved Him. Not once, but yes three times.
Now in Acts 11, Peter was well into his ministry. He was administrating the church along with preaching, healing the sick, and offering deliverance for people.
One day while during the preparation of lunch, Peter spent some time on the rooftop praying. God called him to move out of the realm of just ministering to the Jews. God told him to do the unthinkable, go to the home of a Gentile.
He had never done that before. The way God spoke to him was pretty unique. Peter received the message in a vision. And yes you guessed it, God did it three times.
The Cornerstone and Foundation
So what does all this mean? We must remember that the apostle Peter was a foundational part of the church. Paul wrote in Ephesians the following,
You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Ephesians 2:19-20
Three different times, the Lord reminded Peter, three times each. Why? So he would get it right. God wants us to get it right also. We are fortunate that we have the writings of the early church called the New Testament.
Along with the instructions and guidance of the Bible, God will speak to our hearts for a specific calling. But sometimes we miss it. So He will call us again to confirm it. We need to know that He means business when He calls a third time. Are you listening for the voice of the Lord? Do you obey God the first time He speaks?
Obey God
It might not be a high-profile ministry like Peter’s was, but your ministry is just as important. We are all part of the building that is built on the foundation of the apostles and Prophets. Christ Jesus is the cornerstone. We are all part of the body of Christ. We each have an important function in that body with Jesus being the head.
Read a related post about Jesus being The Cornerstone.
Hear God, obey Him, and never under estimate the ministry He has called you to.
Lord, open our ears so we will always hear your call and obey it – the first time.
Read the whole story in Acts 11.
You would enjoy reading the cornerstone post on discipleship called How To Be An Effective Devoted Disciple Of Jesus
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