A Powerful Testimony - Peter

Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Acts 3:7-8

At the Easter service of a West Coast church, the pastor delivered his shortest sermon of the year. Following his sermon, several dozen people walked one by one to the front of the congregation, each carrying easy-to-read, handwritten placards identifying the sin or bondage from which Jesus Christ had released them:

• bitterness . . . violent anger . . . self-condemnation . . . addictions

After the service, many observers said, “I may not remember what the preacher said, but I won’t forget what God had helped those people with.”

That’s the power of a transformed life.

“No longer lame” could have been on the placard of a first-century man whose crippled legs were healed the day he met two men named Peter and John. This man wasn’t looking for a miracle. He only wanted a few coins so he could get a bite to eat. Though the apostles had no money to give him, they didn’t leave him empty handed.

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Peter said (Acts 3:6), then he took the man by the hand and helped him up.

He could walk! More than that, he could run and leap and praise God!

A once-handicapped man walking around and praising God’s name is sure to get people’s attention. It did, and after seeing the reality of Christ’s power and hearing Peter preach, hundreds, if not thousands, turned to Jesus Christ from the personal testimony of one man! (See Acts 4:4.)

A changed life gives mighty testimony to the reality and power of the gospel. You may not feel qualified to speak to others about Bible doctrines or deep theology, but you can certainly testify to what God is doing in your life. How is God transforming you into a brand-new person?