Daily Devotion, April 22, 2020

Devotion:

Read Acts 3:1-10.

There are so many details to ponder here! The first one is to think about Peter’s life story for a moment. He denied Christ three times. Then Christ forgave him. Peter was then empowered by the Holy Spirit to help others and to give witness to the resurrected and living Christ! There’s hope for all of us!

A second detail is that Peter and John stopped and saw the man who could not walk and asked him to look at them. Peter and John had learned from following Christ to truly stop and see the deepest needs of others. How often do we walk past and do not see the true needs of others?

A third detail is to hear what this man asked from Peter and John, silver or gold. But Peter and John listened more deeply to hear and see what the man needed the most --- to be able to walk and to know he was welcomed into God’s kingdom. How often in our brokenness do we pray for things which won’t really help us? God hears and sees our deepest needs.

A fourth detail is that Peter and John had full confidence in the risen, resurrected Christ such that they boldly spoke living words of healing into this man’s life! Imagine being in the crowd at the gate and observing this!

 

A fifth detail is that the man began walking, jumping and praising God! He gave credit where credit is due! How often do we forget to give glory to God for God’s saving work in our lives?

A sixth detail is that the healed man could now enter the temple and the people recognized him! It is presumed that they had stopped seeing him before as they passed him by. How often do we pass people by and doubt the possibility of God’s transforming work in their lives?

Personal Worship Option:

This is good news today! From the first line of the great hymn, “He Lives,” you and I can confidently say, “I serve a risen Savior who’s in the world today!” We have been given hope! We can be confident that God sees us and hears our deepest cries. We are offered the gift of salvation and we are called to go forth and help others in Jesus’ name! Stop, Look and Listen today!