Cornelius was praying when he had a vision of an angel who told him to invite the apostle Peter to his home (Acts 10:2-6). The Roman officer sent his servants to find the apostle, making it clear that Cornelius and his family were ready to hear Peter’s message (Acts 10:22). Having had his own divine guidance (Acts 10:9-21), Peter went with them, shared the gospel, and Cornelius’ whole family became believers (Acts 10:23-48). The event is one beautiful, divinely arranged appointment.
The story of Cornelius’ dream that helped lead him to faith in Jesus is astonishing, but now let’s consider a modern version . . .
It’s been told that Ben Skaggs, a missionary to the Boshu people, had an amazing encounter when he began ministering to the extremely isolated group in Ethiopia’s Me’en territory. On first meeting the Boshu, Ben and his team were welcomed by a local named Golon Kabule. “We sat down and spoke a bit,” Ben says, “explaining that we had come to tell them of ‘God’s talk.’ I described who God is, what He is like, and where He lives.” But Golon soon interrupted.
“We must follow Christosi,” Golon said, using the Me’en word for Christ. Astonished, as Christ’s name had not been mentioned, Ben asked the man how he had heard that name. Golon explained that He had appeared to him in a dream, told him that it was He who had given him his life, blood, and bones, and that Golon was to follow Him. Jesus had then said that in just 5 days someone would come to tell him about following that path. Ben and his team had arrived on the fifth day!
God can use supernatural means to reach the hearts of unbelievers. But He also uses you and me! May we faithfully spread His good news wherever He leads today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Psalm 145:1-21
More:
Read Acts 2:17 and consider what it says about how God can speak to and through people during these days on earth.
Next:
When have you heard of or experienced God using dreams to achieve His purposes? In what other ways does God guide you today?
Marlena Graves on May 18, 2015 at 7:01 am
This is another amazing story that encourages me! I’ve often mourned about what I take to be the injustice of fate of those who’ve never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. But this story reminds me again, and I’ve written about it, that God cares about them far more than we do and that he will make a way. Thank you for this encouragement today.
Sheridan Voysey on May 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm
I love the fact that you just couldn’t manufacture an event like this. Yep, God is kinda keen to reach people.
Gary Shultz on May 18, 2015 at 7:26 am
We are astounded sometimes when God steps outside our perceived box. It is an amazing reminder that God can move heaven and earth to accomplish His purposes. You have asked of our experiences of dreams and I recall none, but He is still speaking and wonderful to me.
Sheridan Voysey on May 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Yes, these kinds of experiences are rare, but thank God he does them!
joycemb on May 18, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Actually I just had a dream the other night that answered a question I had posed to God. My question was, “why do I still struggle with loneliness after all these years”. That night I had a dream that I was, through tears, trying to help a little girl who had just lost her grandfather. Trying hard to hold back those tears, I held a short prayer in my hand that I prayed which was an acknowledgement that God knew about it and that the little girl was not alone but would see him in heaven. As I awoke I realized that that little girl was me. When I was 8 my grandfather died, the only adult in my life who loved and cared for me unconditionally, even to the point of physically confronting the abusers in my life. When he died I from then on have always had deep, deep feelings of despair and loneliness. And still at the age of 65! When I became a Christian at the age of 30 Jesus told me to look to Him as my mother and father, which I have done. However, that deep sense of loss of physical connection to anyone has remained, until now. Knowing that God has provided a way to live eternally and is so committed to healing even the deepest pain makes my world and the universe so much larger! Inside I feel a new sense of warmth and peace I have never felt before. Even without this healing my heart has been set on following Christ to the end of this life, and He’s just made the journey a little easier. I am so grateful for this tender mercy and thankful for His amazing love!
neemoments on May 20, 2015 at 12:51 pm
I’m reading this text as I try to keep my mind in faith. I woke from a disturbing dream about 3 a.m. [My mom had telephone me in a panic. Someone or something was outside of her home. As she began to explain, she start moaning and I couldn’t understand her. I handed the telephone to my husband and woke up.] I did rest later after going to the home office. I did get some sleep before starting my day. As I commuted into work, I called my mom. She shared that my sister was just rushed to the hospital by ambulance. I lifted her up in prayer with my husband. At work, I began to read this article. It has been on my heart to have a gathering – a women’s tea party. I texted my sister about this just a few days ago. I will ask her to speak at this event, to share her faith.
Winn Collier on May 29, 2015 at 10:21 am
I like the idea that I’m a little supernatural : )