I Wonder

Daily Reading: Acts 3

Scripture Focus: And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  (Acts 3.9-10)

Devotional Thought: Peter and John were "poor preachers."  And, while they didn’t have much money, they did have a lot of faith.  So, they engaged a crippled man in conversation in order to offer him something more - something better - than money.  They told him: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he did!

Now that created a stir in the temple courts.  This man – whom everybody knew and most people avoided – had just moments before been begging and was now walking and leaping and praising God!  The people who had just gone in to pray had seen him with their own eyes.  They had seen him the day before, and the day before that.  What was different?  It was Jesus! 

I’ve seen many people pray for Christ to forgive their sins.  But, then they rise up and walk out without any discernible difference.  They go around living as beggars and cripples.  They really haven’t let Jesus change their lives.  I wonder what would happen, if these people would start walking and leaping and praising God?  I wonder what would happen if their lives were completely and radically changed by the power of Jesus – delivered from addictions, from anger, from poverty.  What would happen if the church prayed and believed God until people were genuinely healed?  What would change in our communities if Christians lived different lives, lives of power and holiness, love and compassion, joy and hope? 

I wonder...

Prayer: Jesus, forgive me for living such a faithless and powerless life.  Help me to believe - really believe - that I am able to do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Then help me to live in the power of that belief.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 67.1-7

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!