The lame man leaps (6) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:9–10

The lame man leaps (6)
A miracle has happened: a lame man, who couldn’t walk from birth and for over 40 years, can walk and leap again! But the reactions to this are disappointing! The crowd recognises that the lame man, who had sat day after day at the Beautiful Gate, is suddenly walking around healed. Here, in front of all the people, a miracle has happened that cannot be denied.

But unfortunately, the critics do not take the incident positively. One is astonished – because they didn’t expect it. Another is confused and cannot believe it, not recognising the action of God in what has happened and therefore not praising Him.

Surely you remember the seemingly depressing beginning of the story – the helplessness of the lame man. But the end of the story is really depressing. There God has worked in power, has performed a miracle, but the people do not rejoice at it, and are at first confused and later even want to cover it up.

Am I like the lame man whose life was hopeless or do I already rejoice in my healing, my salvation? Am I like him, seeking fellowship with other believers to praise and worship God regularly? Or am I like one of the crowd who knows what has happened – but who has not yet experienced healing and salvation for himself?

The lame man leaps and is happy. This joy can be personally experienced by everyone even today, almost two thousand years later!

(concluded)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 17:41-54 · Psalms 104:13-26