Devotional Thought : Acts 10:4

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." Acts 10:4

Cornelius was “God fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (v.2), but he was not a Jew. Yet he managed to get heaven's attention because he had a right heart attitude. Peter would not have thought this was possible. He did not think a Jewish person should even visit a non-Jewish person (v.28). Even after spending three years with Jesus, Peter still didn’t understand the universal nature of the gospel.

God sent Cornelius a preacher, perhaps not a particularly willing preacher but a preacher nonetheless. Peter didn’t even know what he was suppose to say (v.29) while Cornelius expected that Peter would be fully informed: “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us” (v.33). Cornelius had an expectant, open heart to hear from God so God make sure he heard.

Two things strike me about this incident. Firstly God’s desire to have people in right relationship with himself. God saw Cornelius’ heart and sent someone who could explain Jesus’ life and death to him. If people are open and honest toward God, God will show up. He has planted eternity in people’s heart (Ecclesiastics 3:11) so that they will seek him and if they seek Him, God will make sure they find Him, even if he has to send an angel!

Secondly we are sometimes like Peter, a bit slow to realize what God is doing and not sure what we are supposed to say. But as we look to God, He will provide us with the understanding (“I now realize…”) and with the words to say.