A devout family
“a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually” (Acts 10:2).
What should we do to build a devout family more than a happy family? Through Cornelius and his family, we want to be taught in three ways:
First, a devout family fears God.
Look at Acts 10:2a – “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household ….” The fact that Cornelius, the leader of the household, was a devout man who feared God with all his household gives us a valuable lesson. And that lesson is that the man, the husband and the father, should take the initiative in fearing God. Then what does it mean to fear God? It is to hate evil. Look at Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.” The Bible says that God hates pride, arrogance, the evil way and the perverted mouth. Therefore, those who fear God should hate them too. If fearing God is to hate evil, then if we think in opposite way, fearing God is to love good. Look at Romans 12:9 – “Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” Look at Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Look at Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” The devout family is the Christ-centered family which the family fears God. The family who fears God hates evil and loves good. Therefore, we should not lose heart in doing good.
Second, a devout family gives many alms.
Look at Acts 10:2b – “… and gave many alms to the Jewish people ….” Cornelius and his family show two aspects of true godliness, that is fearing God above and loving people down. True devotion means two things must coexist together. The front of the coin is to fear God, and the back of the coin is to love the neighbor. And the specific aspect of neighboring love is giving alms or relief. True godliness is to take care of the orphans and the widows in distress. Look at James 1:27 – “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Apostle James says that pure and undefiled religion (godliness) in the sight of our God is to visit orphans and widows in their distress. And those who fear God keep themselves unstained by the world. Cornelius was well spoken and respected by all the Jewish people because he who was a righteous and God-fearing man gave many alms to those in need (Acts 10:2). Look at Acts 10:22 – “The men replied, ‘We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. …’” Our family and church also should work hard to give alms. In fearing God, we must serve our neighbors, especially those who are alienated from society. This is true religion and godliness in the sight of God.
Third and last, a devout family prays to God continually.
Look at Acts 10:2c – “… and prayed to God continually.” Cornelius always prayed according to the prayer customs of the Jews. The prayer customs of the Jews were prayed twice a day (9 am, 3 pm) or three times a day (9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm). In other words, Cornelius had a regular prayer life. And what is amazing is the fact that Cornelius's prayers and alms were ascended as a memorial before God. Look at verse 4: “… And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” Here we can see that prayer life and giving alms are connected. The connection between prayer and giving alms shows that prayer is the right prayer when it is based on good deeds (Yoo Sang-Sup). Those who fear God are those who pray. We must strive for regular prayer life. And we must offer a living prayer to God. We should pray to God in fear of Him and strive for giving alms in love for our neighbors. We must live a life of prayer that goes with good works.