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The First Time

by Jerry Ousley  
2/11/2011 / Christian Living

There are a lot of firsts in our lives. It begins at birth with our first look at Mom and Dad. Then there's the first smile, the first word, the first step, the first bite of solid food and the first time going to the bathroom that isn't wrapped around our waist. All of these seem very insignificant to us now but they were a big deal then.

When we start a new job there's the first day and the first paycheck (which is the first that was the main reason we took the job). We experience our first solo drive after getting our license, the first day at college, the first kiss of the lady who is to be our wife (or husband if you're the lady), our first home, and our first child.

Come to think of it, life is full of firsts. There are many firsts that I'll never forget. One in particular that stands out to me right now is the first time I had biscuits and gravy. When firsts that stand out to us are about food that tells us what just might come first in our lives doesn't it? Really, food doesn't come first for me but to be honest at the time I'm doing this program I haven't had breakfast yet and a big plate of biscuits and gravy really sounds good right now. It was a country meal that I didn't think I liked very much. But when I tasted it that first time I couldn't get enough. That wonderful sausage gravy smothering those fluffy buttermilk biscuits just hit me right and I've been hooked ever since. Of course I can't eat that for every meal or I'd be twice, maybe three times larger than I am. But man, when I do allow myself a scrumptious bowl of biscuits and gravy it is a treat that I love.

There's a first in the Bible I'd like to spend some time on today. It is the first time the Gentiles were allowed membership into the Church. The story is found in Acts 10. In a nut shell Peter had been staying with a man named Simon who was a tanner by trade. A tanner was a person who treated hides of animals, particularly cattle, turning them into leather. It wasn't a pleasant job and it was a smelly one too. Anyway, Peter was up on the rooftop deep into fasting and praying, seeking God for His will. He had a vision of a large net descending from the sky that contained all sorts of animals, some of them clean by Jewish standards and considered edible, others not considered edible. As it settled on the rooftop a voice told Peter to get up, kill and eat. Peter protested stating that he had lived by the strict Jewish laws that forbad him to eat anything unclean, to which the voice responded that what God has made is not unclean.

Shortly after that there was a knock at the door. It was a group of men desiring that Peter come with them to the household of Cornelius, a soldier and commander of a Roman regiment. He had been seeking God along with several others in his household and an angel had appeared to them telling them to get Peter. The vision given to Peter was preparation for this first. He was obedient to the Lord, went to the house of Cornelius and told them about Jesus who is the Christ the Messiah.

The Bible tells us that they believed Peter's words and before he even finished his message the Holy Spirit fell on them and for the first time these Gentiles (non-Jewish people) were instantly and miraculously made a part of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was a first that was met by much controversy as you can see by reading the rest of the Book of Acts along with the defenses given by Paul and other Apostles in the New Testament. But it was the intention of God all along.

Most of us who are Christians can remember the first time we came to Christ. What a wonderful, joyous day that was. Our burden of sin was lifted and it seemed like we were walking on the clouds.

I believe that we need to remember that day often. Not in wishing we could go back there, but simply to remind us of the wonderful experience and the great change in life granted us by Jesus Christ. When we look back at that first and remember it, we are encouraged when we go through some other firsts, namely the trials, challenges, tribulations, and hard times we may be experiencing right now. Don't ever forget that first in your life. And if you haven't had that first yet, then today's a good day for it. Let the Lord into your life. Believe in Him and let Him fill you with His wonderful Holy Spirit and you will remember it fondly as the greatest first you've ever known.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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