“May We Earnestly and Humbly Receive God’s Word 願我們認真和謙卑地領受神的話語“（Acts 使徒行傳 10:24-33）
… Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’ … He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?’ Cornelius answered: ‘… Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. … Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.’
… 哥尼流已經招聚了自己的親戚好友在恭候他們。彼得一進去，哥尼流就迎接他，俯伏在他腳前叩拜。彼得扶起他，說：“起來，我也是人。” … 就對他們說：“你們知道，猶太人本來是不准和外國人接近來往的，但神已經指示了我，不可把任何人當作凡俗或不潔的。所以我一被邀請，就毫不推辭地來了。現在請問：你們請我來是為什麼事？” 哥尼流說：“…哥尼流，你的禱告已蒙垂聽，你的善行在神面前已蒙記念。… 我們都在神面前，要聽主吩咐你的一切話。”
Cornelius waited for Peter to come knowing that since God motivated him to call Peter in the first place, God would bring the plan to completion. Peter and Cornelius honoured giving preference to each other. By entering a Gentile’s home, Peter showed that his heart and mind had changed, and that he had learned the lesson of the vision of the great sheet. Though Cornelius was not a Christian in the sense that he was not yet born again, yet in this case God heard his prayers and remembered his generosity to others. God was going to answer his prayers through the gospel Peter brought to them. Peter’s audience was attentive and well-prepared by the Holy Spirit. The best way to receive a good message is to come with a prepared heart.
哥尼流等著彼得來到，知道因為神一開始推動他去找彼得，所以神會完成祂的計劃。彼得和哥尼流相互尊敬，彼此推讓。彼得以進入一個外邦人的家，表明他的心意和思想已經改變，他已經學會了大布之異象的功課。縱然哥尼流從他還沒有重生這意義來看不是基督徒，但是在這種情況下，神聽了他的禱告並紀念了他對人的慷慨，正在透過彼得把福音帶給他們來應允他的禱告。彼得的聽眾是傾聽和蒙聖靈好好預備的；要領受一個好的信息，最好的方法就是帶著一顆準備好的心來聆聽。
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, anyone could have his/her own spiritual blindspot like Peter due to some custom and tradition, past experience or pride and prejudice, etc. blocking one’s spiritual sight to know your heart and truth. Thank you for the indwelling Holy Spirit that had worked in Peter also working in us to overcome our blindspot and misbelief. May our blessing be greatly increased when your servant is prepared by the Holy Spirit to bring your message and we prepare ourselves to hear your word. Amen.
禱告: 親愛的主耶穌，任何人如彼得一樣，因著某些習俗傳統、過往經驗或傲慢和偏見等等，而有自己屬靈的盲點，防礙人屬靈的視野，去曉得你的心意和真理。感謝你那曾在彼得里面作工、內住的聖靈，也在我們裡面作工，去勝過我們的盲點和錯誤信念。當你的僕人蒙聖靈的予備去帶出你的信息，並我們準備好自己去聆聽你的話語時，願我們所蒙的祝福大大地增加。阿們。
