God is still looking for the vessels.
Cornelius might be one of the most undersold characters of the Bible. Acts 10 tells the story of the Holy Spirit falling on the gentiles for the first time.
The text identifies a man named Cornelius whom God chose to begin this unprecedented event which literally changed the world. The Bible says that “Cornelius [was] a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” (Acts 10:1-2)
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Cornelius was living his life for God. He just needed direction.
He had his priorities straight. He was just a little lacking in information and majorly lacking an encounter with God.
Cornelius was weird. That line about the “Italian Cohort” is important. In the same way that Paul was a Jew of Jews, this guy Cornelius was a Roman of Romans. The Roman army was a multi-cultural army, picking up soldiers from their conquered lands. But this guy was a legit Italian, and a leader in his unit, which was made entirely of other Italians.
Even before his encounter, he was willing to stand out against his culture. As a rule, Romans believed in many gods and hated Jews. They didn’t necessarily especially hate Jews, they just looked down upon every people group the empire had conquered.
But this guy Cornelius, a leader and Roman of Romans, believed in the one true God, treated the Jews generously, and openly led his household in the same.
By every Roman standard—a real weird dude.
He was willing to stand out for the small amount of truth he knew. That made him a trustworthy vessel for more.
If we’re not willing to be a little weird for Jesus when we have little influence and no one really cares what we do, how will that possibly change when we do have influence and people watching and criticizing us? Do we really think it will be easier then than it is now?
Do you think it gets easier the more you have to lose?
We’re always waiting for some circumstance to change so that we can step into the person we want to be.
That’s not how it works.
Start being the person you want to be, and then your circumstances begin to shape around you.
Cornelius was leading his family to God, giving generously, and praying continually, THEN God met him.
This isn’t conjecture. In verse 4-6, an angel meets Cornelius, and tells him that he has been chosen specifically because of the way he has lived his life toward God.
And because Cornelius was already pursuing God, he already knew what to do when he was called—”Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.” (10:24) The Holy Spirit fell in power on all of the people Cornelius had brought together to hear Peter speak. Cornelius didn’t need instructions, because his heart was already prepared. The thing that seemed most natural for Cornelius to do was already the right thing to do.
How often do we tell ourselves the lie that when I’m successful, then I’ll be able to really put my life in order and make God first. Right now, I have to pay these bills, I’m so busy, it’s hard, etc. etc.
When you’re successful, when you have spiritual authority, influence, power, money—these things will only amplify the priorities that you hold right now.
Something I’ve observed: God rarely becomes more important as people become more successful.
If you are disciplined, and if you are single-minded in your pursuit of God today, then what you have will maintain and grow as you become more successful in your craft.
And it’s not too late. Choose to make God first today.
Give God your time, talents, and money. Be weird. Stand out from your culture.
Imperfect as you may be, give God your everything. Be like Cornelius—be the willing vessel in need of guidance.
When we’re willing to give God everything when we have little, only then can we be trusted with a lot.
God still changes the world with vessels who are fully committed to him.
Make God first today. There is nothing more important.
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