Faith Comes Through Jesus [Acts 3]

Healing of a Lame Man

 ⁶But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!" ⁷And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. ⁸With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Peter and John were entering the temple gate when the lame man who begged at that gate asked them for help. How many times have you been in this same predicament?  Someone, who is always there begging, asks you for help.  Personally, I seldom even look at the person.  I find if you avoid eye contact they won't expect anything from you.  But Peter and John both stopped and looked intently at this man and invited him to look at them.  So he turned to them with expectation.  As their eyes locked, Peter knew (by the Holy Spirit's direction) what God was calling him to do - introduce this man to Jesus, the One who could heal the lame. "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!"

Immediately there was an another opportunity and Peter (in tune with the Spirit) didn't miss it.  As the people recognized what had happened, they all came rushing over in awe and amazement. So Peter addressed them, "why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?" He then began to tell the whole crowd about Jesus. Remember "you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life..."  But the story does not end there.  God raised Jesus from the dead. We saw Him with our own eyes, we witnessed this fact.  It was because of Jesus that this man was healed. ""The faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all."

 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (v. 19) Peter then invites them to come to Jesus and receive forgiveness and return to the refreshing presence of God.  He understood for himself what a treasure the gospel was and he was willing to share that treasure with those around him.

I praise You, God, for the invitation that came through Jesus, the Righteous and Holy One.  He is the Prince of Life.  I praise You that faith in His name comes from Him and gives me complete forgiveness (released, wiped off the map) from my sin and brings me back into Your refreshing presence.  Cause me, by the power of Your Spirit, to share this treasure with others.