So he (Peter) ordered that they (the believers in Cornelius’s house who wanted to be baptized) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:48)
There’s a woman in my Word Weavers writers’ group who talks about Jesus with love and excitement. She writes beautiful devotions and says beautiful prayers. I love being in her presence.
Peter also is excited about Jesus and loves telling stories about him. He not only tolerated the Gentiles, but he loved them when he realized God did. I can imagine he prayed loving prayers for them, as Jesus did for him. They loved being in his presence and asked him to stay.
Peter didn’t order the people in Cornelius’s home to be baptized because that’s a decision God wants us to make on our own. He ordered the men traveling with him to baptize them if they chose to be baptized. This tells us that we don’t need to be baptized by a church leader; any Christian can baptize another who believes in Jesus.
Dearest Father, I praise You for adopting me into Your family. Help me always be a loving person whom people want to be around, one who prays loving prayers. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.