God Looks At The Heart, And He Saw What We Are Doing For Others
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:3-4, NIV
Cornelius was known to be a centurion. According to some commentaries, a devoted Jew wouldn’t normally like him since he was an officer of the Roman army. The Romans believed in many gods but Cornelius believed in the God of the Jews. In Acts 10:2, it says there that he and his family were God-fearing and gave generously to those in need. Even though this man wasn’t born an Israelite, God finds his heart and devotion pleasing in His sight.
So, one day, an angel approached him and called him by name. It’s very important to highlight this part because it only shows that God really knew Cornelius. Calling him by name simply means that He was important to him. That’s how personal our God is. Even though this world’s population increased, God would still identify us by our name. He knows who we are and our heart’s desires.
Aside from that, the angel also told him that God heard his prayers and saw what he was doing to the poor. In fact, God treated them as a memorial offering. You see, Cornelius was considered to be a Gentile. He doesn’t follow most of the traditions of the Jews. But what God saw in him was even more important. He saw his heart. He was listening to his prayers. And because of that, God would send someone who would share to Him Jesus, the source of true life. In the succeeding verse, God instructed Cornelius to welcome one of His disciples, Peter. And when Peter entered their house, he preached the gospel and told them about Jesus. There, he discovered more about God.
This verse is a great reminder for us that God accepts us despite our races. He looks at the heart and he saw what we are doing for others. He would call us by our names, and He even knew the numbers of our hair. That’s how personal and intimate our God is. So, whenever you feel like nobody cares for you, may you be reminded of the God that Cornelius believed in. He is a God who listens to your prayers, and one day, you will discover more on Him.
Prayer: Father God, thank you so much for giving us the chance to know you. Please help us remember who we are in your eyes. When we are so bombarded with the things of this world, please give us the courage to believe in your love. We pray for the kind of faith that always willing to trust in your promises. Thank you so much Lord for being there. Thank you for listening to our prayers. In Jesus’ Name we pray, amen.
