At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:1-4
“The fear of the Christian is not servile, but filial. There is a great difference between fearing God, and being afraid of God. The godly fear God, as a dutiful and loving son fears his father; but the wicked are afraid of him, as a prisoner is of his judge.”
Thomas Watson in Puritan Gems; or, Wise and Holy Saying of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Anglican Minister. edited and arranged by the Rev. John Adey (London: Snow and Ward, 1850) 51.
I have left the cosmopolitan confines of Islamabad and am ministering in Jhelum today.
Got here late and turned in even later and let’s just say the Muslim call to prayer threw me out of bed shortly after 5:00 AM through the thin walls of the home of my host. How they have learned to sleep through it (I can hear snoring on the other side of the walls), I will never know!
In an islamic setting the relationship with God is define by servile rules rather than filial love. If the difference remains unclear to you, read the post again.
This shapes generosity because any acts done linked to what one feels they like have to do, not because of what they get to do as a dutiful and loving child of God. People in Islam or Christians stuck in Old Testament thinking would both reflect this. To all of them, I say, God does not need your money, he wants your heart.
Conversely, Cornelius appears as a devout living, faithful praying, generous giving, and God-fearing person. This marks the way to life that God sees as memorable before Him.
Father. help us and our families by your Holy Spirit to live like Cornelius regardless of what everyone else is doing around us because of our filial relationship with you through your son, Jesus. Amen.
And Cornelius is on my mind today, because today is my Father’s 86th birthday.
Like the faith and life of Cornelius shaped his family, my dad’s God-fearing life shaped my brother, sister, and me to see devout living, faithful praying, and generous giving. Happy Birthday Dad!