Let It Be Said of Me

"There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, 'Cornelius.' Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, 'What do you want, sir?' The angel said, 'Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention...'" (Acts 10:1-4, The Message)

I mentioned in my previous blog that it seems that my home is the most difficult place for me to surrender my pride and my own desires and empty myself to be a servant in love. Reading Luke's description of Cornelius and the way God was paying attention to him is not only amazing but creates a longing in me. I sensed the Spirit speaking so clearly to me through these few verses. "He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer." What a remarkable thing to have said about you by anyone...but especially by God. As the angel points out to him, "Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention."

My sense this morning is that if God was noticing these things, Cornelius' family and all who were around him noticed them too. These are the very things that I long to practice: 1) lead my family to live worshipfully before God, 2) serve those in need (love my neighbor), and 3) have a habit of prayer. Holy Spirit lead me and let this be said of me for Your sake and for those You love.

It is interesting that Peter has to surrender & empty himself (kenosis) of all his cultural and religious baggage in order for the Spirit to use him with Cornelius and his family. What if Peter had said NO? He certainly argued with God about all of this, but ultimately he responded in obedient love and went to see Cornelius. Cornelius had called together all of his family and close friends to hear God's message through Peter. Peter realized that God played no favorites through this experience and described all that God had done in Jesus through his life, death, and resurrection. As he described the forgiveness available in Jesus for those who believe, the whole gathering was filled with Holy Spirit. The Jews with Peter were amazed that these non-Jews had also received the Spirit.

Cornelius and those with him seemed to have already surrendered (kenosis) to God and to what He would speak through Peter that day. They were waiting not unlike the Jewish disciples had done in Acts 1, and the result was the same. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. This was a life-changing day for Cornelius and his household but also for Peter and the Jewish believers with him.

In response to God's great love and mercy, both Cornelius and Peter surrendered themselves to God and emptied themselves of everything. In this place of emptied surrender, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I long to follow their example today and every day as I strive (by the Spirit's power) to lead my family to live worshipfully before God, to serve those in need, and to have a habit of prayer.