Life Capsule for Today Date 8th May, 2024
Theme: Silent Labors (4)
Memory Verse: Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Topic: Cornelius’ alms became a memorial before God
Today’s Reading:Act 10:1-5
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 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.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
Words of the Ministry:
Today, we would be considering another secret labor of gentile believer called Cornelius, his account teaches us the power of prayer and alms giving. The bible said he feared God, prayed always and was known for his alms giving. He gave much alms to his people and his secret liberality made God reward him openly. While he served God with prayers and alms giving as a gentile who hadn’t accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ, he never knew God took note of his liberality and wanted to reward him. His reward came as the highest reward, not as money, children or livestock but the gospel of salvation that gives eternal life.
God had to send an angel to Cornelius through a vision telling him to send men to Peter who would later lead him to Christ. The liberality of Cornelius made him the first gentile to be saved. We may never know the power of alms giving, Jesus, teaching on alms giving says when you give don’t blow your trumpet as God would reward you (Mat 6.1-4). From the account of Cornelius, we can have a glimpse of how God rewards us, giving us beyond what money can buy. Cornelius through his giving was laying noticeable treasure in heaven and that became a memorial that opened the door of salvation for him and his household.
Saints, we need to turn a new leaf towards giving, when many hear about giving alms to the needy, they immediately have a mood swing, they find it difficult to share their wealth with the poor and needy ones in the Church and society. What they don’t know is that just as Cornelius alms was a memorial to God, so is their stinginess a memorial to God, many prayers have been left unanswered because of stinginess. When a man is stingy, he is saying to God that he can make wealth and meet all needs without God, it is an expression of pride and idolatry. Believers must avoid the temptation of selfishness as God intends to make many us custodians of his wealth and when we decide to be stingy, we close the door to divine prosperity. May the Lord grant us light.
Bible in one year: 2 Kings 18-20. For further fellowship send us an email on godmanvideos@gmail.comor visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting, Word feast comes up every Wednesday by 5pm and Prayer Gym every Saturday by 7am while PENIEL comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Suite A10, Ahser Office Complex, beside Living Faith Church, Opposite Hassan Stores, Arab Road, Kubwa Abuja.