Acts, chapter 3 revisited

What is a miracle like today. I have been thinking of this for some time. I have felt that a miracle is needed for my current state of partial employment to end. I have felt a miracle is needed for our current state of life to change. We have been very unhappy with the way our lives have been lately. We have tried everything to envoke change, but nothing has worked. Naturally, the only thing left to hope for is a miracle.

In Acts 3 we see a true miracle performed by Peter, as he healed the crippled beggar outside the temple. Where is the true message here? Is it in the miracle itself? No! It comes from the faith of the crippled man that he could be healed by the power of God. Sometimes it is not the power of God that really does anything, but it is is the faith in God that accomplishes a lot.

13The 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. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By 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 given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. – Acts 3:13-16

Was Peter given a power by God that we do not have access to because we are not apostles? No. Through faith, we can accomplish our own set of miracles. I like to believe that it was year of faith and prayer that led to the salvation of my aunt, who has been debilitated and embittered by multiple sclerosis for years. I do not know her heart, but I know that God can do some pretty amazing things with the human heart.

Lately I have been so focused on the change that needs to happen in my own life I have had trouble seeing outside of myself. This has led to some pretty depressing days, as it has been hard to even move. As I start to look outside, however, I see the faith of God coming back. If I can see Him work in the lives of others, it gives me hope that some day He’ll be working in my life again.