Send to Kindleby Robin McKinley,
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Eric,
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Three times, the apostle Peter was involved in events that occurred three times. Two of those times, the Lord spoke to him. How many times does the Lord need to talk to you before you obey Him?
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 what would happen on His next trip to Jerusalem. He wanted them to know that He would be killed and would rise from the dead. Peter pledged that he would be there with him and even die with him if he had to.
Jesus though, told Peter that he would deny Him three times, and of course, Jesus was right. Then, after the resurrection, Jesus specifically named Peter and the other disciples.
After His resurrection, while standing on the beach, the Lord called out to His disciples. There, He confirmed Peter’s call to ministry. Jesus then asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Not once, but yes, three times.
Now in Acts 11, Peter, well into his ministry, was administrating the church along with preaching, healing the sick, and offering deliverance to people.
One day, during lunch preparation, Peter spent some time on the rooftop praying. At that time, God called him to move out of the realm of only ministering to the Jews.
God told him to do the unthinkable: go to the home of a Gentile. He had never even considered doing anything like that before. God spoke to him in a very unique way. Peter received the message in a vision. Not once, not twice, but yes, you guessed it, God did it three times.
The Cornerstone and Foundation
So what does all this mean? We must remember that God used the apostle Peter as a foundational part of the early church. Paul wrote in Ephesians the following about the church.
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
On three different occasions, the Lord had to remind Peter three times each. Why? Because God wanted him to get it right. God wants us to get it right, also. Fortunately, we have the writings of the early church, known as 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.
Do you think that God means business when He calls us a third time? Are you listening for the voice of the Lord? If you are, do you obey Him the first time He speaks?
It might not be a high-profile ministry like Peter’s, but your ministry is just as important. We are all part of the building, 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.
I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. Psalm 85:8
Hear God, obey Him, and never underestimate the ministry He has called you to.
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
