Never do this as a Believer

 Acts 10:24 reads:

"And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends."

This verse sets the scene for the meeting between Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and Peter, an apostle. Cornelius, despite his high rank and authority in the Roman military, demonstrates humility and devoutness, characteristics highlighted throughout this narrative. The key event related to the theme of giving all glory to God occurs shortly after this verse when Peter arrives at Cornelius’s house.

As Peter enters, Cornelius meets him and falls at his feet in reverence (Acts 10:25). However, Peter immediately tells him to stand up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man" (Acts 10:26). This interaction is crucial as it underscores the message that glory belongs to God alone, not to humans, regardless of their role in His works.

Reflection on Humility and Giving Glory to God

The behavior of both Cornelius and Peter in this chapter of Acts is instructive for Christians on the importance of humility. Cornelius, despite his status, gathered his family to hear Peter’s message, showing his reverence not to Peter as a person but to what Peter represented—the messenger of God’s word. Similarly, Peter’s refusal to accept worship or excessive reverence reminds us that as vessels of God’s work, humans should not take glory for themselves.

This principle is particularly relevant when considering the role of miracles, signs, and wonders in the ministry. These acts are manifestations of God’s power and grace, not of any individual's merit or capability. As believers, it’s crucial to remain humble and acknowledge that any ability to do God’s work is granted by God and should reflect back to Him. All glory, honor, and praise should be directed towards God.

Isaiah 42:8 reinforces this, stating, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols." This verse reminds us that God alone is worthy of glory and praise, ensuring that our efforts in ministry always aim to elevate Him above all.

Practical Application

1. Stay Humble: Always recognize that your abilities and opportunities to serve are gifts from God.
2. Redirect Praise: When you are commended for your deeds, use the opportunity to give credit to God.
3. Focus on Service: Let your work be about serving God and others, not seeking personal recognition or glory.
4. Continuous Prayer: Maintain a prayerful attitude that seeks God’s strength and wisdom, acknowledging that without Him, you can do nothing of eternal value.

In Essence

Every believer should cultivate a heart that, like Cornelius and Peter, recognizes and celebrates God as the source of all good, the director of our paths, and the rightful recipient of all glory. This mindset is essential to ensure that we never attempt to take any glory that belongs solely to Jesus. When you give all the glory and all the praises to Jesus, you will do well and complete your race. Keep your focus on Jesus, not on yourself. Go by the example of the early apostles, who gave Jesus all the praise and glory. If people come and lift you up, remember to say, "I am but a man—I am able to do this all because of Jesus, and only Jesus can do it, and He is the only one that can do this. I am just a vessel that He chose to use." Yes, this is it. God will do some of the most amazing and glorious things in our lives—Jesus is the only one worthy to be praised. Amen! Prayer :

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts bowed in reverence and spirits lifted in praise. You have declared in Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols." This solemn proclamation reminds us of the sacredness of Your glory, which belongs to You alone.

As we reflect on the encounter between Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10, we see a powerful lesson in humility and the proper handling of divine glory. Cornelius, a man of authority and influence, displayed profound humility by gathering his family and friends not to celebrate himself, but to receive Your word through Peter. And Peter, recognizing the temptation to accept undue reverence, admonished Cornelius, reminding him and us that he was merely a man, underscoring that all glory belongs to You, Lord.

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that without You, we can do nothing. Every breath we take, every step we make, is sustained by Your mercy and power. Help us to stay humble, recognizing that our abilities and opportunities to serve are gifts from You. When signs and wonders occur, when successes are achieved, may our first response be to lift our eyes to You and proclaim, "To God be the glory!"

Guard our hearts against the subtle temptations of pride and self-glory. Instill in us a spirit of humility that always acknowledges Your lordship over our lives. Let our deeds and successes cause others to turn towards You in awe, recognizing Your power and love at work in this world.

As vessels of Your divine grace, may we be transparent, allowing Your light to shine through us so clearly that all who see us will not praise us, but glorify You. Strengthen us in the pursuit of Your kingdom, knowing that it is through Your strength alone that we can impact this world.

We thank You, Lord, for the assurance that in our weakness, Your power is made perfect. May this truth keep us grounded in Your love, committed to Your service, and ever eager to give You all the glory.

In the glorious name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen.