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The Cornelius Call to Prayer

By Bhabi* in South Asia

"There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:1-2).

Several years ago, I was inspired by a pastor of Muslim background who challenged his congregation to pray for their Muslim friends in new ways. He asked them to consider the striking parallels between devout Muslims of today and Cornelius, the centurion described in Acts.

The faithful Muslim, like Cornelius, is very devout and sincere in his devotion to God, gives generously to the poor, and prays regularly, five times daily. He has very strong family ties and is often influential in his community. But, like Cornelius, he also has a great need to learn more spiritual truth, and his heart must be prepared to receive it.

Cornelius, a Gentile, belonged to what was then a previously unreached people group. Simon Peter, as a Jew, could have viewed him both with distaste and a sense of fear. But God worked in Peter's heart, and when Cornelius subsequently sent for him, Peter said, "Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one another nation, but God hath shown me that I should not call any man uncommon or unclean" (Acts 10:28). God broke down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles, just as He longs to do between Christians and Muslims, that his Word might have a life-transforming effect.

"While Peter spake [of salvation], the Holy Spirit fell on all them who heard the word [in Cornelius' house]. And they of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 10:44-45).

The Muslims call Jews and Christians "People of the Book," because we share the belief that the Bible is God-inspired. We who are "People of the Book" are obligated not only to pray for the preparation of Muslim's hearts for the gospel, but to reach out to them, as Peter did when Cornelius called.

Here are some prayer principles from Acts 10 for the Muslim world:

• Pray that God would awaken the hearts of devout Muslims, like Cornelius, to their need for more spiritual truth.
• Pray that Muslims with prepared hearts would have the opportunity to hear the good news of peace and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ-that a modern day Peter would be sent to them.
• Pray that entire families, like the family of Cornelius, would be saved.

But what about those whose zeal for their faith has led them to extremes--perhaps even to violence? Remembering a persecutor named Saul, we can pray that the same God who confronted Saul on the road to Damascus would raise up a modern day counterpart who would be so transformed by encountering Jesus Christ that he would turn his world upside down and lead many to eternal life. May God grant us the faith to believe and the faithfulness to obey His call to prayer.

* Bhabi is a respectful term in South Asia for an older woman. It literally means "older brother's wife." Her name has been changed.