Reading for today: Acts 9:32-43
The Acts story now shifts from Saul, and reverts back to Peter, who has traveled to Lydda to visit the believers there. While there, he finds Aeneas, who for 8 years has needed someone to dress him, move him about, take him from bed and put him back at the end of the day, and help him with all his needs of personal hygiene. His was a very difficult situation.
Peter spoke these words, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Miraculously, Aeneas is instantly healed. Many people who saw this miracle turned to the Lord, not to Peter. That is a mark of genuine healing: when the Lord gets the glory, and not any man.
Then Peter found himself being dispastched 10 miles further toward the Mediterranean coast to the city of Joppa, where a woman named Tabitha had died. This was a special lady who had given of herself to meet the needs of the poor around her. Peter dismissed all the mourning widows who surrounded her dead body, and went to his knees in prayer, and then turned to the body in faith and said, "Tabitha, arise!"
Another miracle took place as Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up. Imagine the joy Peter had in presenting her alive to all the mourners. Again, this miracle resulted in many people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
You can't help but notice that Peter refuses to take any credit for these miracles. The spotlight was kept on Jesus Christ as the healer. God has a wonderful way of using miraculous events to draw people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. God can use a miracle as the entering wedge for evangelism.
That's precisely why we pray for miracles to take place around here. The purpose of a miracle is not to draw attention to a person, or a church. The purpose of miracles is to draw peoples' attention towards Jesus Christ. We pray for miracles so that the door of evangelism is opened wider and wider.
What miracles do you find yourself praying for? Why do you want to see that miracle take place?
Tomorrow: Prejudice rears its ugly head!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I really enjoy reflecting on Peter and his spiritual growth. Back in the gospel, when he denied Christ three times on the eve of his crucifixion, Peter demonstrated a fear that many of us would have. Peter also walked on water when he saw Christ, but he quickly took his eyes off the Lord and then sank. Now he is doing everything for the glory of Christ in an unabated manner. Now he immediately honors Christ and gives him the glory. I am impressed.
Post a Comment