Acts 3

This devotional is written by Joanna Stewart. 

Peter heals a lame beggar
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, 'Look at us!' 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter speaks to the onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: 'Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17 'Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people."

24 'Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, "Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed." 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.'

When I read this passage, I was struck by the people going to worship God, walking past the man begging for their help. Those so astounded by what Peter and John have done but with no recognition of who's power it was done by. It seems like these people have got stuck in the motions of their faith, failing to see the miracle before them.

I find it so easy to get caught in going through the motions like the people in this passage. I'll go to church, maybe even go to small group, keep doing the things I've done since the day I first set foot in a church, and forget the reasons why. It's so easy to become numb to the crazy miracle of Jesus. What would life look like if we chose to stop and see the miraculous rather than walk past it?

Thankfully, Peter reminds us of the refreshment we can receive if we turn back to God. I love that word. It makes me think of a reset, a fresh perspective, an awakening - like someone pouring cold water over you. God refreshes us, through his spirit, to see his miraculous nature and to live faith fully, not just the motions! We just have to ask. My challenge to you is to spend some time considering the areas of life and faith where you have been going through the motions and ask God to bring you refreshment. Ask him to open your eyes his miraculous power in those areas of your life.

Prayer
Thank you, God, that you bring us refreshment in the times where we are just going through the motions. We ask you to reveal your miraculous power to us afresh so that we may find even more reasons to give you glory. Amen.