The apostles heal many

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought those who were ill into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

Like bees to honey, people were being drawn to God because of the healings and miracles that were taking place. Personally I am so excited when I hear testimonies. Or when I see how encouraged people are from something miraculous God has done.

I remember when I became a believer a few miraculous things happened. I told my friend and she was like ‘whaaaaat’ and I said ‘yeah it’s God, it does not make sense but he's supernatural and he supersedes our mind’ and she was like ‘wow’. She was so interested and soon came to know Jesus herself. Now I know this isn't always the case, or necessarily that simple - God is always connecting to our hearts and that is a complex, very personal, thing. But I do think these moves of power are a way of God saying to people ‘Hey I'm here and I'm limitless. I’m relevant and I move amongst you and I'm not stuck in history or in a book’ - that sense of wonder at what he can do can draw us to who he is.

However I also have friends who I’ve shared stuff with and they have said ‘ah wow that’s cool’ and then have not looked for anything more from it. When I was first a believer I was so annoying, (probably still am!) to people because I was adamant they should understand that this proves God is real and He can do anything and He can do it for them. But I’ve learnt that it’s a sure-fire way of putting anyone off. Lol . So to me it was interesting that it mentions that people were wary about joining them; that they admired them, yes, but they didn't want to get involved. It hit me that, you know what, that’s OK, because maybe that is always going to be the case. I think that when we make peace with that, that people will be wary, that they may just admire from afar but not actually join, I think we can then rest a bit. And surely admiration is really positive, a seed that can grow into something in the future.