Luke the physician wrote how, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 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”, and in chapter ten and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Lord told Cornelius, “your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God” where we read:
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God.
The verse begins, “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?” Luke began with the words, “and when he looked on him” which means “and at the time and moment Cornelius observed, notice and beheld the messenger from God”, “he was afraid” or “Cornelius was fearful, alarmed, frightened and in fear”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “what is it, Lord” or “what do you desire of me One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has the power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” was frightened by the “vision” of the “angel” and asked the “Lord” what He desired of him.
The verse goes on to say, “And he said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Luke continued with the words, “and he said unto him” which means “and the messenger from the Lord uttered, declared and proclaimed to Cornelius”, “your prayers” or “the orations, supplications and worship to God from Cornelius” “and your alms” which means “and the offerings and charitable blessing given by Cornelius” “are come up for a memorial” or “have ascended and sprung up as a remembrance, record and reminder” “before God” which means “in front and in the presence of the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how the “angel in the vision” told “Cornelius” that his “prayers and offerings” served as a “record and remembrance” for him in the presence of “God”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how the “Lord” observed and kept in remembrance the “prayers and offerings” given by “Cornelius”. Though “Cornelius” did not have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, He was going to be offered one because of his pious deeds. God loves people, and He seeks to have everyone come to Him through Jesus so He can forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. People who do not know God personally may be acknowledged by God when they use what they have to worship Him, and because God has designed mankind to worship something, anyone who attempts to “pray to and give” Him homage will have the opportunity to accept His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how the Lord tells Cornelius, “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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