The Devotion that Pleases God

The Devotion that Pleases God

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa (Acts 10:1-8).

The Holy Spirit shows us God at work in the heart of a Roman officer. We get a beautiful picture here of how the Lord brings people together to accomplish His work in our world. The gospel was spreading beyond Israel and beginning to bear fruit among the Gentiles in fulfillment of God’s divine plan… “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). Jesus had affirmed the truth that He came to save Jews and Gentiles alike… “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). God’s grace was at work among the Gentiles, drawing them to Himself and preparing them to receive the gospel message. The centurion and his family would soon hear the gospel and believe in Christ because this devout Gentile and his whole household had the devotion that pleases God.

God pleasing devotion produces a fear of the Lord. Something about this Gentile Roman officer prompted a visit from an angel of God. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record that Cornelius… “feared God”. The Greek word for fear used here is phobeō, and it means to frighten, to be alarmed; to be in awe of, to revere, to be afraid, to fear exceedingly, and to reverence. Cornelius lived in a pagan culture where there were many idols and false gods competing for his devotion, but his attention, his heart and mind were devoted to the one true God, and in response, God placed a holy fear and reverence in his heart. The scriptures promise that this kind of holy fear leads to the discovery and knowledge of God Himself… “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). Here God fulfills his Word by sending an angel to arrange a meeting for Cornelius and his family with the evangelist Peter. Like Cornelius, do we have a holy fear of the Lord that increases our awareness of His presence and are we sensitive and responsive to God fearing seekers around us?

God pleasing devotion inspires a generous spirit. Cornelius’ whole-hearted devotion to the one true God left no room for selfishness in his heart. In fact, the angel of God noted that along with his prayers, his generosity… “ascended as a memorial before God”. Devoted disciples recognize that God is generous with us so we can be generous to others, and through our generosity God is glorified… “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Does our giving reveal a generous spirit that reflects the generosity of our Father?

God pleasing devotion compels a prayerful heart. Like Cornelius’ pagan world, our culture is full of distractions and temptations that compete for the attention of our hearts and minds. God calls us to look away from the world… “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). I like the way the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to compel us to place our hearts and minds in the presence of Christ where He is seated. This is a powerful picture of what happens during times we devote to prayer. Does our time devoted to sitting and conversing with Christ in the presence of God reveal an increasingly prayerful heart?

As we grow up into Christ, we grow in reverence, generosity, and a prayerful spirit through…

The Devotion that Pleases God.

The Faith that Produces New Life

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner (Acts 9:36-43).

Today we examine a miracle. As Peter continued to serve the Lord, minister to people, and preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit led him to a group of mourning disciples in the town of Joppa. He might have expected that the purpose for his visit was to offer comfort and lead them in the burial of their beloved sister Tabitha. But God had much more in store. He knows what we really need and He is sovereign over all the good and bad circumstances of our lives… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God is always eager to give us more than we know to ask for… “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). On this day, after Peter cleared the room and met with God in prayer, the Lord led him to command Tabitha to return to this life. Next, confronted with the testimony of this miracle, throughout Joppa… “many believed in the Lord”, and many received new life in Christ. Today, the Holy Spirit helps us see a great miracle that led to even greater miracles, as we witness the faith that produces new life.

New life comes through faith in God. This whole scene is a wonderful illustration of faith in God. Tabitha’s faith in God was evident to all in her… “good works and acts of charity”. The disciples’ faith in God compelled them to send for Peter, whose faith in God led him to pray and respond to God’s instruction to command Tabitha to… “arise”. The faith of each of these young disciples came together in this amazing event and the result was new life for Tabitha and far beyond, new life in the surrounding community as… “many believed in the Lord” and received new life in Christ… “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). Our best witnessing efforts often come as our faith is tested and revealed to unbelievers who are watching us. The Lord offers new life to the lost through us as our faith in God is perfected in difficult circumstances.

New life comes through the faith of the servant of God. Peter’s faith in God compelled him to change his plans and travel to Joppa. It was becoming natural for him to pray and even more comfortable for him to command a dead girl to rise. He had seen Jesus raise the dead. Perhaps he remembered Jesus’ promise… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). As we serve Christ every day, we can anticipate great things as the Lord works through our faith as His servants.

New life comes through faith in the servant leader of God. There is one more revelation here. The disciples in Joppa respected the leadership of Peter enough to call him to share in their mourning over Tabitha. They obeyed his command to leave the room where she laid. The Spirit exhorts us to trust God and submit to the spiritual leaders He places in our lives… “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17). When we trust God and have faith in the servant leaders who care for us, God produces life for us and others through this holy relationship.

As we grow up into Christ, we can be an instrument of His life producing power as we grow in…

The Faith that Produces New Life.