What Will Be Said At Your Memorial?
Acts 10:4b
"What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God."
A few years ago my father died. At one point during his memorial service, several family members,fellow Bishops, and friends came forward and spoke about one of their most treasured memories of him. It was very emotional -- there was not a dry eye in the house. I remember thinking that it was too bad my father was not present to hear how much he meant to all of them.
So I wonder how Cornelius felt when an angel of the Lord told him, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." In other words, God's most treasured thoughts of Cornelius were his prayers and gifts to the poor. That is so encouraging to me -- to know that God actually hears (and remembers) our prayers and acknowledges our good deeds. Although we can sometimes think our role is small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, this verse "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God," let's me know that God is always watching -- and that what I do matters to Him.
Question;
If your memorial service was today, what would those in attendance (the ones who knew you best) -- say about you? If they were asked to list the top five things you were passionate about, what would they be? How many would be about giving? How many would be related to your faith versus your hobbies or your profession? Cornelius' "prayers and gifts to the poor came up as a memorial offering before God." What is your offering? What would you like it to be? What steps can you take today to change what you are passionate about to more closely fit what matters to Him?
Lets examine ourselves,as the Apostle Paul stated in 2Cor.13:5.
"What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God."
A few years ago my father died. At one point during his memorial service, several family members,fellow Bishops, and friends came forward and spoke about one of their most treasured memories of him. It was very emotional -- there was not a dry eye in the house. I remember thinking that it was too bad my father was not present to hear how much he meant to all of them.
So I wonder how Cornelius felt when an angel of the Lord told him, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." In other words, God's most treasured thoughts of Cornelius were his prayers and gifts to the poor. That is so encouraging to me -- to know that God actually hears (and remembers) our prayers and acknowledges our good deeds. Although we can sometimes think our role is small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, this verse "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God," let's me know that God is always watching -- and that what I do matters to Him.
Question;
If your memorial service was today, what would those in attendance (the ones who knew you best) -- say about you? If they were asked to list the top five things you were passionate about, what would they be? How many would be about giving? How many would be related to your faith versus your hobbies or your profession? Cornelius' "prayers and gifts to the poor came up as a memorial offering before God." What is your offering? What would you like it to be? What steps can you take today to change what you are passionate about to more closely fit what matters to Him?
Lets examine ourselves,as the Apostle Paul stated in 2Cor.13:5.
