WHAT MATTERS TO GOD

Acts 10:2,4

He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!

A very pertinent question one must ask, what matters to God?

What matters to God?

Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was and He replied:

Luke 10:27 

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

It was already in scriptures:

Deuteronomy 6:5 

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Thus the summary of God's commandments is love for Him and love for others.

The Angel told Cornelius that his prayers and gifts had been received by God as an offering. Listen, it means that not all prayers and giving are received. Selah

Why:

1Samuel 16:7 

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

It is one thing to pray, or do what you call Good deeds, it is another to do it sincerely. Religions teach people to follow laws, guidelines, protocols, ablutions, Creed's, doctrine, the list is endless however the Lord is interested in a sincere heart.

David understood this so he prayed:

Psalm 139:23-24 

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Both Cain and Abel presented good gifts to the Lord the difference was the heart.

Genesis 4:7 

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

When we understand this we know how to walk with the Heavenly Father, you don't play games with Him, you don't play smart with Him. HE IS GOD!

Well Cornelius was accepted but He yet needed something, yes the essential of the time. He was alive when salvation had come, thus the best thing to happen to him was to receive power to become a son. Remember:

John 1:12 

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This was what Jesus Christ told the man who said he had obeyed all the commandments:

Luke 18:21-22

The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

That is what is missing, the moment salvation, Yeshua Hamaschiach, the Word, Jesus the Christ was revealed, that was all that mattered. 

Listen, even those that had died before now were preached to:

1Peter 4:6 

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

So what matters to God is to love Him sincerely and prove that love by doing good, but more importantly that we can be adopted as His children and this can only be done by Himself through His Word, Jesus the Christ.

*So I cannot say, I am saved and live like a sinner. I cannot also live like the righteous and conclude that I am saved.*

John 3:18 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 1:18 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

We must get it right, our focus, our priority should be on what matters to the Heavenly Father.

Help us Good Lord.

Glory to God in the Highest.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher