Look Up

Acts 10:23b-26—The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

Cornelius seems to have been a man hungry for spiritual connection.  He was so open to the Gospel message that God sent an angel to him instructing that he send for Peter.  But in his eagerness, he initially mistook Peter for more than just a man.  He fell down to worship Peter and Peter had to tell him to stand up.  When Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter and the other apostles were left with amazing gifts that gave them great power to spread the Gospel, and sometimes others wanted to worship them instead of God.  That power could have easily gone to their heads.  Time and again, though, we see them grounded in their humanity while focusing the hearts, spirits, and minds on God.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, consider the two main characters in this passage.  Can you identify with Cornelius, a man so hungry for spirituality that God spoke to Him even before Cornelius knew Him?  Can you identify with Peter, a man so assured in his faith that he humbly accepted his humanity and redemption through Jesus Christ?  Pray that God would ground you even while your eyes lift upward.