Reading: Acts 3

This is a bit of a different take than we’ve been doing, instead of diving into just a single verse or a few verses, we’re going to use the entirety of the chapter, so make sure to read the entirety of Acts chapter 3.

First thing first, straight from the start, we learn in verse 1 that Peter & John (most likely the other disciples as well) participated in a daily hour of prayer together, we are told that this is three in the afternoon. This is important in that we all should take part in praying together. Next we move on to the story in this chapter where Peter heals a lame beggar. We are told that he was by the temple gate called Beautiful where this man would beg every single day. We are told that this man was lame from birth and so he would not have been welcomed into the temple because he was lame. Then we see Peter do something super awesome...he says “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The man was then instantly healed, this man had most likely never walked on his own, or stood by himself, he certainly always had people helping him in most things that he did.

Now, this man being able to walk was spectatular, but this wasn’t the only miracle performed...because he was healed, he was able to enter the temple for the first time in his life. He was walking and jumping and praising God. The other people in the temple were filled with wonder and awe when they saw this man that they recognized. They walked past this man often and probably thought to themselves “oh, this poor man.” and every once in a while they might have given him money. They were simply amazed. So much so that they ran to Peter to John, and most likely began lifting praise to them, but Peter shut that down real quick, he said that through the name of Jesus alone could someone be healed. He gave credit where credit was due.

This is a good reminder to us that whenever we are sharing Jesus with other people and those peoples lives become changed, or we invite people to church and those people come to Jesus, it is Jesus alone to who deserves credit, not us. We must humble ourselves and thank Jesus for allowing us to be his hands and feet in this broken world. We need that constant reminder that through Jesus alone can we be saved. Good works and everything else that seems like a good way to get to heaven is not good enough. We must have Jesus. He is the one and only way.

Dear Jesus, thank you so much for your call to live as you did. Thank you for the power to heal people by faith in you Jesus. You give us the authority to do so much, and Jesus anytime we accomplish something for your kingdom we want to take credit but Jesus, that credit all belongs to you. I pray that you allow us all to see that. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.