God’s surprises: Unpredictable blessings: remember Cornelius

"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. And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, 'What is it, lord?' So he said to him, 'Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.'" - Acts 10:3-6

Cornelius, a devout man, prayed fervently even before he came to know Christ. The specific content of his prayers is not known, but it's unlikely that he ever asked for, or even imagined, that an angel would descend to visit him, providing an address to reach a man who would deliver the message of salvation.

Cornelius' story reminds us that our prayers, offered in faith and sincerity, can have a profound impact in ways we may never anticipate. Just as God surprised Cornelius with an angelic visitation and divine guidance, He is also capable of surprising us with blessings and answers to prayer that go beyond our expectations.

Topical meditation 2023

September 8