A Memorial...

"Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." Acts 10:4 

Cornelius was a Roman Centurion that feared God.  Cornelius was known for helping the poor.  As the angel of the Lord comes to Cornelius he tells him that the gifts he had given to the poor had come up as memorial offering before God.  The things Cornelius did for the poor were remembered by God.

When we do things to help the poor it is like we are doing it for God!  It is an incredible thought to think, as we give a plate of food to those who have none it is the same as giving a plate of food to God! When we give to the poor we give to God!  WOW!  Just consider for a moment, serving the poor and downtrodden, is serving God.  But to turn our back on them is to turn our back on God!  God takes note when we help the poor, He even says, He will repay us.  So there's no way to lose when we help the poor, those who can't help themselves, who have lost hope, God will repay us!  Our aid to the poor in the name of Christ is offered up as a memorial before the Lord!  We are to be the light and reality of Jesus Christ on this earth!  Jesus would never turn His back on the poor of this world, and as His ambassadors we should not either!

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Proverbs 19:17