Don't Worship the Messenger

Acts 10:24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

We, as fallen human beings, tend to worship the created instead of the Creator (Romans 1).  It can be an idol, some possession, ourselves, and even others, like those who bring us what we have been searching for.  This is not the only time in scripture we see someone falling in worship of a messenger and being rebuked.  But this man did have a sincere heart and a basic understanding of worship. He saw that they were there in the presence of God to hear what He had to say.  That is always a good starting point. Let's just make sure, even during Pastor Appreciation month, that we don't worship the messenger, only rejoice in the message he brings, and the One to Whom it points: Jesus Christ.