Daily Reading: Acts 10
And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10.5)
Devotional Thought: In Acts 10, we meet Cornelius, a Roman soldier who was also deeply spiritual. It was said of him: “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (10.2, NIV). God gave him a vision to send for Peter and learn the way of salvation.
Learn the way of salvation? Cornelius was devout and God-fearing. He was compassionate and generous. He prayed to God regularly. Now he was to learn the way through which he and all his family would be saved?
What does this tell us?
God is gracious and just. God recognized that Cornelius was following him the best way that he knew how. He desired to reward Cornelius for his compassion and piety. God will never be in anyone’s debt! So, God sent an angel to Cornelius to reveal to him the grace and mercy of Christ!
Being good is not good enough. Cornelius was a very good man. In the court of public opinion, he would be considered “more than good enough.” But, in light of eternity, he was not good enough. Cornelius was doing good works – works worthy of praise and honor. But, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6.29).
God accepts our deeds of righteousness by the merit of Jesus Christ. Cornelius' good works were actually the prompting influence to bring him to faith in Christ and salvation. These works did not save him. When we recognize that God accepts our deeds of righteousness through the merits of Christ it changes everything. Salvation is all of grace and faith, and our works rest upon this.
Thank God for grace!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for any inclination that I may have to do good works. Help me to see that these works are not the way of salvation but lead me to the way of faith. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 72:1-7
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
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