A devout man

Act 10:1  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Act 10:2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Act 10:3  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Act 10:4  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

A devout man-

Feared God- as all in his household.

Gave much alms to people.

Prayed to God always.

A devout man.

Are we devout people?

We desire God to hear our prayers, to accept our offerings in the form of giving to others, we don't pray without believing God hears, do we? Why would we? What sense is there in praying if we can't believe God hears?

Here was a man - a devout man, a devout believer. An angel came to this man and told him that his prayers and alms were seen by God- a memorial before God. God wanted to reward such a memorial and how did He reward it? With riches? No. With  glory? No.  With worldly things? No. He sent one of Jesus' disciples, the apostle Peter to him to open His eyes to the truth of salvation through Jesus!  What a BLESSING!

This devout man was NOT A JEW.

This devout man that God heard was UNCLEAN according to Jewish ways.

God specifically honored this man, Cornelius, by sending Peter to him to bring him the message of salvation, to give him the truth.

God blessed Peter in this as well, revealing to Peter the truth of His love - which is for ALL, not just for the Jewish people, but ALL.

I'm not Jewish, but I believe in God, I believe in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ!  By the grace of our SAVIOR I can belong to Him, I can be a child of the King! I can be an heir of salvation!

I long to be devout as Cornelius was devout, and by God's grace I can be, He can be -in me! 

All by the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR- JESUS CHRIST!

Please Holy Spirit, please….