Wednesday, June 30th
Read: Acts 3
In this chapter, Peter and John help a man out who is in pretty bad shape. This man was known around the area because he was crippled since birth and he begged at the most important place, the Temple. Peter and John healed this man for three reasons:
The first is that the man needed healing. He sat in this spot day after day because he couldn’t do anything else; he had no other hope for survival but to beg for money from others. It was not by any fault of his own that he was handicapped. But the man still needed help and by healing his physical body, God gave the man a chance to end his time of begging.
The second reason was to glorify God. The first thing the man does after getting up is to praise the Lord! What a great response to the work of God in his life. And when the people saw the healing work that God had done in this man’s life they also began to praise the Lord for what was done.
I want to note what happens next. The man clings to Peter and John, and all the people gather around them as if they had done this work of their own power (v.12). The they heal the man is because it testifies to the power of the Lord. Peter is then able to explain the sacrifice of Christ. He is able to give a testimony to the saving power of Jesus.
We have to watch out when we hear a story like this not to miss the greater miracle for the lesser. The power of God to heal the man is a small mirror in which we can see the great power God has to save mankind. His healing and redemptive act on the man’s physical body is a small way for us to see the healing and redemptive act that He made for us all. God’s power points back to His great victory over death. As Believers we can take great joy in this life-giving power and redemption.
Verses 13-26 talk about the Patriarchs (or “founding fathers” of the Jewish people) and the power of God working through them. This power of God is the same power that is seen in the Old Testament and shows that God is still working in big and powerful ways to relieve the oppression and continue the salvation of His people. The same mighty power of God that was shown in the Old and New Testaments is still around today. God doesn’t change and can do the same things in our lives, families, schools and cities.
Process:
1. How can you mirror God’s love in a way that show’s salvation to someone? They may not get the connection between the grace you show them and Christ’s grace, in fact, it’s likely they won’t. But if you’re love is real it could spark curiosity in someone not expecting it. It can lead people to question where your love and grace come from. In this way, you can be a mirror for Christ.
2. In what ways do you love others with Christ’s love?
3. In what ways do you give God credit for miracles and daily account for blessings in your life?
4. What else can you do to demonstrate God’s power in your life?
CHALLENGE
Summarize this chapter in the fewest words possible. Start by doing the first section (v. 1-10) in six words or less then second portion (v. 11-26) again in six words or less. Then write an overall summary.