Read: Acts 10: 1-6 Continue in the Faith“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Heb. 10:35, 36
Cornelius was a man who feared God with all his house, he was one who gave abundantly to the needy, who prayed always and fasted often. This was his lifestyle and not just sporadic happenings during his life. People who knew Cornelius spoke well of him. We are not told what he was fasting and praying for but during one such time an angel appeared to him. The angel addressed Cornelius by name; there was no mistake that the angel had come to speak to Cornelius. The angel said,
“Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” Acts 10:4-6 The angel came to inform Cornelius that his consistency in prayer and giving had created a memorial of him before God and that there was something which God wanted to give to him. God knew him by name and God had seen all that he had done up until that time.
What we do for God is never a waste, you might not see the results of your consistency in obeying Him but He is fully aware of what you do. We are not to give up but to continue faithfully serving the Lord.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”1 Cor. 15: 58 Cornelius was whole hearted in his serving of God. We are to be the same.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” Col. 3:23 We are to serve the Lord with gladness, remembering that our reward is from God. This will keep us from growing weary in well doing and from seeking reward or approval from man.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”Matt.6:6
Our prayers, giving and fasting and acts of service are not unnoticed by God. There is a record in heaven when we serve the Lord and He will reward us in due season. Your prayers before God are a sweet smelling incense. When you take time to remember God and serve Him He takes delight in remembering you and blessing you.
“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.” Rev. 8:3, 4
Have you created a memorial before God? Many seek to be remembered and known of man but what is most important is that we are known of God! May we continue to serve God in the ways we can and not give up.
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