Lessons from the story of Cornelius - Part 1

Acts 10

Here we read about a man and his family who were both religious as well as God fearing. He "prayed regularly" the Bible says. And his faith was practical in that he gave generously to those who were in need.

And it was to this man, that God gave the privilege of being the first non-Jew to hear the good news of the Lord Jesus and to be saved.

An angel appears to him late one afternoon and instructs him to send for Simon Peter who was to come and tell him what he needed to hear. Interesting? You would think that if the angel had appeared after al, he could also have told him what he needed to hear instead of sending for Peter. But the fact is that it is we and not the angels who have been saved by Grace and it is to us that this mandate has been given to make known the Gospel of the Lord Jesus to the ends of the earth. Angels though they are more powerful and innumerable in number are on the other hand appointed to the "service of those who inherit this eternal life".

May the Lord help us to live our daily lives for the fulfilment of that commision he gave to his followers to go to the ends of the earth and mke disciples.

Again the other thing to note is that Cornelius is mentioned as a person who was a "good person" in any sense of the word. Yet even he needed to hear and believe the good news because the Bible is clear that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and however good we are with our religion and righteous acts, these still cannot guarantee us a place in heaven. It is only the salvantion that comes through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus that can ensure us that place in the presence of God. All of our righteous acts are as "filthy rags" before the infinitely Holy one. It is truly the Grace of God of God that has saved us and may we ever be thankful for that.

God bless!