A Miracle with a Message for Us All
“And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” Acts 3:8-10
What an awesome miracle, but don’t miss a message in it like I did for so long. I was so focused on the miracle I almost missed a mighty message in it. If you’ll devote yourself utterly to God, and dig ever deeper into His Word with His Spirit leading the way, don’t be surprised if you discover ever greater understanding, ever more lessons, and more and more personal growth in Christ. Take, for example, the story of the man crippled from birth. He asked the obvious of the apostles Peter and John as they entered the temple. He was set up in the perfect location. Every day people carried him to the gate of the temple so he could beg for money. And so he did. But Peter and John didn’t give it to him. Peter told him to look at them, and he expected to get something when he did. He certainly did! Peter spoke to him in faith to get up and walk, and sure enough, he did! He was healed in the name of Jesus Christ by faith in Him! Story over, right? Wrong! Know what he did? He WALKED. He LEAPED. He PRAISED GOD! It was all about praising God for his healing, right? Wrong! Here comes an amazing message in the miracle for us!
“ALL THE PEOPLE SAW HIM WALKING AND PRAISING GOD…THEY WERE FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THAT WHICH HAD HAPPENED UNTO HIM (BOLD ADDED).” Don’t miss this message! Praising God is most importantly to praise, honor, love, adore, worship, and thank Him. But this is not all. The people SAW him doing this and were in awe of the miracle he was praising God for. Peter took the opportunity to give the glory to God for the man’s healing, talk to them about Jesus Christ, and call them to repent and turn to God! Praising God isn’t only about giving Him the honor and glory due His name. People are watching us! When we praise God, people see God working in and through our lives, and God can use this to draw them to Himself. The beautiful blessings and miracles of God in our lives that we share with others are wonderful opportunities to tell them the only way to be forgiven our sins and have a forever relationship with God in heaven is by repenting, believing in Jesus as Lord, and turning from this world’s wickedness to live in love, devotedness, and steadfastness to the Lord God almighty and His ways.
This message is for us all. To repent, believe in Christ as Lord, follow Him, live for God, and tell the world how to do the same! Glory! Hallelujah! Don’t miss this message! Pass it on!