TUESDAY - 14TH OCTOBER, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
WHO WILL TELL US WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO? - Ready For The Taking Series 001
"He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do."
People, this is the conundrum in which God has found Himself! Shockingly, God is in a jam - a strait if you will call it that. His question is, "who will tell the dying world what they shall do?" To deepen the criticality of the matter, a verse says "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
Immediately, the premium on a preacher - declarer and voice for the message comes to fore. Till today, it is still, "and how shall they hear unless there's a preacher."
The story of Cornelius is a popular one in the Bible. He is a Mother Theresa in acts. The Bible testifies of this when that visiting angel says, "...thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." Cornelius has the habit of praying and giving alms. That angel reports what he knows to be true. See it again in Acts 10:2.
Imagine that! Cornelius fears God. In another word, he eschews evil (Job 1:1). For short, we can call him a morally upright man. A good man as people would say. God Himself knows that and He doesn't want all these good of his to be a waste. For that, God sent him an angel. Mind you, this supernatural visit is necessitated because God wanted to give him a sign. It's also a way by which God affirms Himself to him. That's why he didn't doubt all that the angel instructed him to do. You don't have to covet any angel visiting you. That's an unusual way through which God speaks to people and He doesn't use it frivolously. It doesn't also prove how spiritual you are because we know Cornelius wasn't even born again when he had an angelic encounter. You don't need it. If you ever need an angel, leave it to God's disposition whenever the need arises. They are mere ministering spirits (Heb.1:14). Put your gaze on Jesus! Desire Him!
Meanwhile, I thought the angel should have preached to Cornelius but the angel didn't do that. That's because angels don't preach the gospel. They are not the ones the Bible describes as having beautiful feet (Rom. 10:15, Isa.52:7). Humans only do. Knowing that, God makes a recommendation through that same angel to Cornelius when He says, "5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon...6 ...he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do."
God has refused to meet the urgent need of Cornelius through an angel. Rather, He recommends a human vessel. The crux of the matter is this, "are you recommendable as a minister? Can God trust you with sinners? Can God trust that if someone like Cornelius were sent to you, you will preach Jesus, salvation or the gospel to him?"
You know, it baffles me that God had to recommend Peter for Cornelius in order to hear the gospel message. God knows the quarters that could give it. It means a lot to me as a minister. It means there's a trust God has entrusted to all preachers and ministers of the gospel and He's expecting us to discharge it. It's to preach the gospel - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (to mention the core). If God were to bring you before sinners and any in need of salvation, what would you preach? The gospel or The 52 Ways To Stay On Top?
You see, there's nothing wrong with 52 Ways To Stay On Top/Make Money but it'll be a waste of ministration before sinners. Of course, that also should not be your best message before your born again congregation also. The greatest need of Cornelius or anyone who isn't born again is salvation and God has found nobody to custody this trust with but the ministers. How unfortunate it'll be for all of us if the man being waited upon goes on to have the floor but preaches another thing even when the souls eagerly waiting are expectant of being commanded and taught concerning that one thing they lack. Consider Cornelius, he only lacked salvation. He's already on the top. He has the bags and has the cash. He has officers for errands and men who respect his name. That's why he's able to gather family and friends (Acts 10:24, 33). However, he is not saved!
Peter could have been intimidated by his status, the riches, the calibre of people surrounding him and so changed his sermon. He could have decided to talk to them on How To Subdue The Earth With Ease, thinking that'll fit the calibre of people seated. But, this is indeed a servant of God - one that God can trust with the Word of life. He dished Jesus out to his hearers and in no time, God answered "with fire" (Holy Ghost out poured) - Acts 10:44, I Kings 18:38.
God Himself is in his right senses when he says, "send men to Joppa to Simon... he'll tell you what you ought to do." God wouldn't have spoken this way if He knows Peter does not have the Word of life? God wouldn't have been this assured to direct a sinner from a Gentile world to look for a man by all means just to hear the gospel being preached. God rather is assured that Peter won't disappoint and indeed Peter maximized this once and for all door of ministry to enter the Gentile world. He preached Jesus - the gospel in truth and indeed.
If it were you before sinners, I hope you won't begin to 'romance' them, wanting to act like a 'civilized' being who wants acceptance by all means? Brethren, God didn't teach Cornelius how to make money. He taught him to be born again. If you care to know, Cornelius is a sinner despite his wealth, status and generousity. However, he yearns after God. God could see that and that's the gulf God wanted to fill by asking him to send for Peter.
May you not waste ministry doors that it takes God to furnish. May you not waste the chance to harvest the ripe field. May you not begin to dance and perform in front of your audience like a fallen Samson when you should prick their hearts with the Word and convict them to godly sorrow, leading to repentance. May the angels not ask, "who's this comedian entertaining to eat?" At your rising and issuance, may you not go to impress your audience but to fulfill Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." May men say, "what shall we do to be saved" instead of picking your hands and shaking it frivolously as if you'd just won a lottery (yet you'd just preached)!
PRAYER: Lord, sharpen my mouth as your arrow. Renew my concentration. Refocus me. Reharness me and let me be your go-to minister when Corneliuses are around.
BIBLE IN A YEAR
Hebrews 3; Jeremiah 10-12
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