The Book of Acts ~ Study Thirty-Six

"Obligation or Devotion"


Acts 10:1-8 (NLT) In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. 
   Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
   And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.  He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

Joppa by the Sea

   As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. 


Jesus uses all kinds of people and brings them together in unusual ways. We've been learning about Saul who was terrorizing Christians with the threat of arrest, jail, beatings and death. Jesus met him on his way to Damascus where he was traveling to carry out his mission against Christians and the name of Jesus. He used a Christian Jew named Ananias to pray and care for Saul after he was converted. 


Now we read that Jesus used a Roman Centurion from the Italian Regiment to do His will. Apparently this Centurion was know as the Italian Cornelius. He was devoted to the Jewish God even though he wasn't Jewish. We learn that it was three in the afternoon that the angel appeared to Cornelius. It was the Jewish time of prayer. Even though he didn't know Jesus, he was a devoted and kind man, taking care of the poor and those in need. Here's this important man who prayed and gave and God noticed.


Revelation 8:4 (NLT) The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.


God noticed the devotion of this man. His gifts and offerings rose like prayers of incense to God. God does notice when we give to others in His Name. He noticed Cornelius and used him to bring Peter to His house. There Cornelius recieved Jesus. He found the Messiah.


Do you give and wonder if God even notices? Describe how you feel when you give of your time, talents and money? Do you give in order to get something in return or do you give out of devotion to God?


Mark 12:28-34 (NLT)  One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
   Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
   The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
   Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.


Is your heart right when you give and when you pray? How can you set your heart on the right path and the right attitude? Are you giving out of dedication or obligation?


The Centurtion was giving out of dedication. God noticed and used him. All the acclaim he got from the world was forgotten but his devtion to God got his name written in the Bible and lead to his eternal salvation when he met Jesus.


Hebrews 2:9 (NLT) What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.


"What we do see is Jesus...." What do you see when you pray? What do you see when you give? What do you see when you sacrify something to God? What do you see when the offering plate passes you by at Church? What do you see when someone asks you to help? Do you see Jesus or do you see obligation?


The Italian Centurion was devoted to God and out of this devotion he gave and cared and prayed. We all need to evaluate where are motivation comes from. Is it because we love Jesus or just want something out of it? God know our hearts. Let's turn our obligation to devotion.