And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

This past Sunday we heard a message on the encounter between the Roman Centurion, Cornelius and the Apostle Peter. Although Cornelius was a Gentile, the Scripture tells us he was “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God” (Acts 10:2).

Cornelius displayed the kind of faith described in the verse from Hebrews 11:6 above. He was known as a man who searched after God and he was certainly rewarded as Luke records in Acts 10 when Cornelius and his entire family received the salvation of Christ.

These passages remind me of Jesus’ teaching to the disciples from Luke 18:1 –

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:1.

Jesus went on to tell the story of the persistent widow who would not give up and received the answer she sought.

So, how about us? Are we practicing the faith we believe?