LightGrams
October 3, 2019
Volume 23, Number 32
Kade Lovell, a 9-year-old boy from Minnesota started with a pack of runners aiming to finish a 5 kilometer race. Starting at the same time were other runners, all adults, who were running a longer 10k course. Somewhere along the way Kade missed his turn, and ended up running the longer course. When he realized he had missed his turn, he thought, “My mom is going to yell at me.”
We suspect Kade’s mom kept her composure, because he crossed the finish line first, beating out the next-place finisher (a 40-year-old) by about a minute. The average age of those participating in the 10k run was 38.
How did Kade turn a mistake into victory? He trains three times a week, he told the media. He hopes to run in the Junior Olympics this winter. (Perhaps he should enter in an adult division!)
When Peter and some other Jewish Christians went into the house of Cornelius, others later accused them of taking a wrong turn: “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” they shouted angrily (Acts 11:3). In the Jewish world of the first century, that was clearly taboo. Jews regarded Gentiles as unclean and defiled, and Gentiles regarded Jews with the same jaundiced views.
Even Peter felt apprehensions about going into the centurion’s house. Upon arrival he stated: “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (Acts 10:28). By the end of Peter’s visit, the Lord had made it clear that the good news of Jesus Christ is for all mankind; no one is excluded.
People don’t have the ability to guide themselves. “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Sometimes we even question God about whether His ways are right.
Ananias couldn’t believe it when Christ told him to go preach the gospel to Saul of Tarsus: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem” (Acts 9:13). When Ananias walked the path Christ ordered him to walk, Saul of Tarsus was baptized, and the powerful ministry of the Apostle Paul was set in motion.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” counseled Solomon, “and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). God knows the course we need to run, despite what our “wisdom” may say. That’s why we need to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2019, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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