Yesterday, as I was reading Acts 10, I couldn’t help but notice the obedience of both Cornelius and Peter.
"In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God."— Acts 10:1-2
The phrase “God-fearing” stood out to me—it’s such an important characteristic. But what does it actually mean? Does it mean being afraid of God? No, quite the opposite. To fear God means:
Loving Him so deeply that glorifying Him becomes your priority—over people-pleasing or seeking approval.
Obeying His commands without hesitation, rather than worrying about what others think.
Standing apart from the world and valuing His standards above cultural norms.
Seeking to bring glory to His name, not our own.
Loving and forgiving others as He calls us to.
Seeking Him before making decisions.
Treating people fairly and with kindness.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it gives a glimpse of what a God-fearing heart looks like.
Cornelius, a high-ranking Roman officer, is first described as God-fearing—then we learn he gives generously and prays regularly. Clearly, these are qualities we should desire in our own lives.
"One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. 'Cornelius!' the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. 'What is it, sir?' he asked. And the angel replied, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.' As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa."— Acts 10:3-8
A few things stand out here:
Because of his faithfulness, God sends an angel to speak directly to Cornelius—how incredible is that?
Verse 7: "As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two..."
Cornelius obeyed immediately. He didn’t wait an hour, a day, or even a few minutes—he acted right away.
When God calls us to do something, He doesn’t mean, “when it’s convenient.” He calls us to obey without delay. Just like we expect our children to listen the first time we ask them to do something, God expects the same from us.
Now Peter enters the story...
Since Peter was Jewish, and Jews and Gentiles had a complicated history, God—knowing this barrier—gave Peter a vision to prepare him for what was coming.
"The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.''No, Lord,' Peter declared. 'I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.'But the voice spoke again: 'Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.'The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean?Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, 'Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.'So Peter went down and said, 'I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?'"— Acts 10:9-23
Another key moment stands out in verses 19-21:
"The Holy Spirit said to him, ‘Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.’ So Peter went down..."
Peter was so in tune with the Holy Spirit that he recognized His voice and obeyed immediately. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit was near to Peter, guiding him.
The rest of Acts 10 shows how God perfectly orchestrated this encounter—two men from vastly different backgrounds, living in different towns, yet divinely brought together. Because of their obedience, the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles, and many became believers!
Obedience often doesn’t make sense.
More often than not, God’s prompting won’t make complete sense at the time. He calls us to obedience—even when it feels uncomfortable, even when it seems unclear. We might even feel a little crazy stepping out in faith.
But He knows the whole story.
I don’t know about you, but I want to live my life fully surrendered to God’s plans. I want to experience Heaven on this side of eternity. I want to live the story God wrote for me—not one built on my own wisdom and strength, but one built on His calling.
Because whatever He has planned is far greater than anything I could ever imagine.

Acts of the Apostles 10:24-48
'They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.” Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.'
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