Acts 10 - hear in the presence of God

A very familiar story of the first record of a Gentile convert.

A devout Gentile's prayers and deeds were remembered before God, and God sent Peter to preach to him. And because of one man's faith, so many others heard the Word too and received the Holy Spirit.

These verses really spoke to me...

"What God has cleansed you must not call common." (Acts 10:15) - we should not despise or reject anyone, even the old man with the funny smell who sits at one corner of the chapel.

"Stand up; I myself am also a man." (Acts 10:26) - Do we remember we are mere dusts too? So why should we think we deserve another man's praise?

"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (Acts 10:35) - God's love extends to everyone, and anyone.

But what set me thinking is the attitude of the people and how they subsequently received the Holy Spirit.

These people were called by Cornelius rather abruptly and yet they were all gathered together in one place because they were eager, like Cornelius, to hear.

"Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." (Acts 10:33)

I was trying to imagine the manner in which they were listening. Were their eyes wide open and gaze fixed on Peter while he spoke? Were their attention undivided and every word tasted like honey such that they yearn for more and more? Were they like deers which pant for the water, thirsting for the way the Word can quench?

What does "present before God" mean? Are we always "present before God" whenever we hear or read His word? When we are in a church service, do we see the presence of God?

If we do, we wouldn't be inspecting whether our nails are painted properly or not. If we do, we wouldn't be checking our phones every other minute to see if there is a new message or perhaps a fb update. If we do, we wouldn't be checking the time or planning when is our next toilet break.

If we see the presence of God, if we are truly present before God, we would have our gaze fixed on Him, ears wide open to hear Him, and hearts emptied to receive Him. We would be listening with our hearts and our minds, and thinking, "More, more of Jesus. I want more of Him."

And, at that moment, while we are still listening, the Holy Spirit would fall upon us and fill us.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (Acts 10:44)

The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard... All those who were present before God, to hear all the things commanded by God (Acts 10:33).

God delights in the attitude of these people.

It has nothing to do with the speaker, but everything to do with how the hearer hears.

How have you been hearing the Word? Is it in the presence of God?