Day 156

2 Samuel 23:24–24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 16:21-23

AS WE MOVED through the Gospels and gave our attention to the stories of Jesus’ ministry, we became accustomed to His miraculous words and ways. In today’s passage from Acts, we witnessed something astounding. As Peter and John visited the Temple for worship, they encountered a lame man begging for donations by the Beautiful Gate. Of course, this was not unusual. But what happened next was.

Peter spoke to the man: “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). The man did exactly as he was instructed and received not only the ability to walk but also a new life.

This is the first recorded instance of a miraculous occurrence after Jesus’ ascension. What makes this profound is the reality of Jesus’ physical absence —but total presence in the form of the Holy Spirit. The work of Christ was continuing, exactly as Jesus promised it would.

The healed man was overjoyed, and an astonished crowd quickly assembled. Peter took the opportunity to speak, and he began with words that are also profound: “What is so surprising about this?” (Acts 3:12).

This is a fair question for all of us. Peter and John did not have anything that we lack. Things were happening precisely as Jesus had predicted. The apostles were simply being Christlike in this situation. They were simply doing what Jesus told them (and us) to do before He left.

Peter used the opportunity to share the story of Jesus once again. Hearts were awakened to the new thing God was doing in and among them.

What would our lives look like if we truly embraced the power of Jesus within us? What if we stopped seeing these stories as metaphors and began to consider them as examples? Perhaps there is much more wholeness available to us than we’re allowing.

As we continue our journey through the book of Acts, let’s remember Peter’s question —What is so surprising about this? —and begin dreaming of a world where nothing is impossible.

MEDITATION:

From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.