"CORNELIUS"

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.”

Acts 10:30-31

Some people are innately kind, gentle, and believe in God. They do a lot of good, and God sees every such act. But are their lifestyle and beliefs enough to say that God listens to their prayers?

In our previous blog, we said that God delays his judgment or relents when people humble themselves before Him. Let me share another biblical passage showing that God listens to those who are not in a personal relationship with Him.

Cornelius

A Roman centurion named Cornelius, despite not having heard the Gospel, was considered a righteous man, and God heard his prayers.

Up to this point, the Gospel had only been preached to the Jews. That said, Cornelius feared God and was known for his good works. However, biblical teachings inform us that his acts of goodness and knowledge of God aren’t enough to call him a believer. But that didn’t stop God from answering Cornelius’ prayers. A few verses later, the Gospel was finally proclaimed to the Gentiles, and Cornelius and his household were among the first to hear it and place their faith in Jesus Christ.

There are countless people today who are like Cornelius—prayerful, compassionate, and have some understanding of God. They are a blessing to our communities, and the Lord does not discount their good works, especially if they’re done in humility and faith. But such people are not exonerated from their sins just because they do good. Just like the rest of us, they also still need to turn from their sins and put their saving faith in Christ to receive forgiveness and God’s offer of eternal life.

Conclusion

God listens to the prayers of unbelievers, especially when they humble themselves before Him. The only thing that nullifies their prayers is sin. Thankfully, Jesus already dealt with sin by dying on the Cross to save you and me. Through Him, we have direct access to God's throne of grace. 

Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God who gave His life for you?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Spencer DeMera on Unsplash