A CERTAIN MAN

Acts 10: 3, 4

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of GOD coming in to him, and saying, "Cornelius." And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, LORD?" and he said unto him, "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before GOD."

 

GOD CALLS US BY NAME

 

As I read the Scriptures, I am very aware that the LORD chooses to address "certain" people by their name. The LORD knows everyone by name and they are precious to Him. When the LORD sends a messenger/angel to a person, that person has been selected by GOD for a mission and is called by name. When you are studying the Word of GOD, notice how many times the LORD addresses individuals by their name. We are not just a blob on the face of the earth, we are called by name and are precious. The most important first step in the spiritual life of man with GOD, was that GOD gave man His Name.

Cornelius is afraid by the presence of the angel, but he addresses the angel as "LORD". Angels carry messages from GOD to man; they do not interpret the message or say things in their own words. Angels repeat what the LORD has said, to do otherwise would be wrong in the eye of GOD.

The angel's message begins with a blessing upon Cornelius, by telling him that his prayers and alms giving had come before the LORD. The LORD remembered the devotion of Cornelius and his family. In verse 2 of chapter 10 of Acts, we find that Cornelius was a devout man, a GOD fearing man, a giving man and a praying man. When GOD was looking for a "certain man" to accomplish His work, GOD looked at the devotion, the fear of the LORD, his alms giving and his prayers. GOD does not look at the status of a person, like the fact that Cornelius was a centurion, of the Italian Band and a gentile. GOD wanted a devout, GOD fearing man; who would give and pray.

GOD CALLS YOU BY NAME AND HE TAKES NOTICE OF YOUR DEVOTION TO HIM AND HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR DEVOTION BY GIVING AND PRAYING