Acts 4:1-22 NIV
It's kind of unbelievable when you think about it. For healing the lame man, in the name of Jesus, Peter and John were thrown into jail. Because a man who could not walk before and now can, two men are brought to trial. The elders of the church and teachers of the law really don't know what to do with these men. They are running around healing people in the name of Jesus and the evidence is before them. The forty year old man who was lame and who now is not lame, also stands before them. Tough call! How to stop these trouble makers who are running around healing people?
They decide they are just going to ask them to stop doing that; to stop talking about Jesus and to stop doing anything in his name. Of course, they refuse.
Things have not changed all that much over the years; except that in this country (USA) we don't usually get thrown into jail for healing someone. Although, I do recall an elderly woman, whom I met when I was selling insurance in North Carolina some 30 plus years ago. I returned to visit her a couple of times before I left the area. Her parents had been slaves. Her life had not been easy by any stretch of the imagination; yet, her faith was strong. She was a faith healer. In fact, as a gift that Christmas (she was overjoyed that someone had come to visit her), she prayed over me, in the name of Jesus, and a cyst in my wrist was completely gone. Yes, it was healed instantaneously. This 90 year old woman had no other friends left alive. Her family, embarrassed over her call to minister to others and proclaim the name of Jesus, had deserted her. Her children and grandchildren did not communicate with her. The state had, in fact, ordered her to quit healing people or she would be arrested. She lived in a one room shack alone; deserted by her family, her friends, her neighbors. She was in effect isolated from the world because of her faith. But, she was not alone. She had Jesus and in His Name she lived.
It did not matter that the state had ordered her to quit healing people. She continued praying for others in the name of Jesus. Not everyone will understand or accept the lives we live in faith in the Son of God. We may and most probably will be judged for our faith. But, what others may think of Jesus should not deter us. May we all be so bold in our faith, willing to be called out for praying and doing good for others, in the name of Jesus.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Showing posts with label lame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lame. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Acts 3:1-10 Reaching Out So Others May Praise The LORD
Acts 3:1-10 NIV
We may not be wealthy, but we all have something to give. We can give generously of the gifts that God has given us; helping our neighbor up when they cannot get up on their own. Although, it often appears to be difficult for those who do not believe; for Christians extending our hand to actually help lift and support in their time of need is indeed possible. All things are possible through Jesus Christ, our LORD, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they ran across a lame man who was going to the temple gate to sit and beg. Peter reached out to him and gave him something more precious than money. In the name of Jesus Christ, he reached out to the man and the lame man was healed. The lame man was made whole. The man believed that it was by the power of God, Himself, that he now had the ability to walk. He jumped to his feet and went with Peter and John into the temple courts walking and jumping and praising God.
What a difference reaching out to someone can make; from sitting at the temple gate as a beggar to praising God within the temple. What a difference faith in the name of Jesus Christ can make; from not being able to walk to being able to run with the testimony of what the LORD has done for us.
Reach out your hand to your neighbor so that all may rejoice in the temple of God.
God's Peace - Pr. J
We may not be wealthy, but we all have something to give. We can give generously of the gifts that God has given us; helping our neighbor up when they cannot get up on their own. Although, it often appears to be difficult for those who do not believe; for Christians extending our hand to actually help lift and support in their time of need is indeed possible. All things are possible through Jesus Christ, our LORD, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they ran across a lame man who was going to the temple gate to sit and beg. Peter reached out to him and gave him something more precious than money. In the name of Jesus Christ, he reached out to the man and the lame man was healed. The lame man was made whole. The man believed that it was by the power of God, Himself, that he now had the ability to walk. He jumped to his feet and went with Peter and John into the temple courts walking and jumping and praising God.
What a difference reaching out to someone can make; from sitting at the temple gate as a beggar to praising God within the temple. What a difference faith in the name of Jesus Christ can make; from not being able to walk to being able to run with the testimony of what the LORD has done for us.
Reach out your hand to your neighbor so that all may rejoice in the temple of God.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Monday, July 28, 2014
John 5:1-15 Confess That You Have Been Made Whole
John 5:1-15 NIV
Today, as yesterday, we have a healing. Jesus asks the lame man if he wants to get well. Why would he do this? I'm thinking, as I said yesterday, it may well be that not everyone actually wants to get well. It might appear to some that being made whole is going to include a change or two. You just might have to pick up your mat, walk, and follow Jesus. At the least you might have to publically acknowledge that Jesus is the reason you have been made whole.
This lame man was unaware who Jesus was when he was healed so he could not tell anyone who had healed him. But, later Jesus saw him again and stopped to talk to him; exhorting him to "stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (vs 14) Now that the man knew who had healed him, he went and told the Jewish leaders that it had been Jesus who healed him.
May God help us to openly and publically confess that we, too, have been made whole through the blood of Jesus the Christ.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Today, as yesterday, we have a healing. Jesus asks the lame man if he wants to get well. Why would he do this? I'm thinking, as I said yesterday, it may well be that not everyone actually wants to get well. It might appear to some that being made whole is going to include a change or two. You just might have to pick up your mat, walk, and follow Jesus. At the least you might have to publically acknowledge that Jesus is the reason you have been made whole.
This lame man was unaware who Jesus was when he was healed so he could not tell anyone who had healed him. But, later Jesus saw him again and stopped to talk to him; exhorting him to "stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (vs 14) Now that the man knew who had healed him, he went and told the Jewish leaders that it had been Jesus who healed him.
May God help us to openly and publically confess that we, too, have been made whole through the blood of Jesus the Christ.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Isaiah 35 - Good News!
Yeah! (short for Hallujah?) Good news, today! It can be quite painful to read the Old Testament at times. It contains a lot of bloodshed and a lot of prophecies of destruction. But, today we hear a prophecy that in the day of the LORD eyes will be opened and ears of the deaf unstopped. The lame will leap like the deer and the mute tongue shouts for joy. (Isa 35:5-6 NIV) A prophecy of healing and salvation! A highway has been built for those who will walk in the Way. But, for those who don't, they will not be able to tread upon it. The redeemed of the LORD will walk upon it.
Oh, what a glorious day. He has come. He is present. He will come again! Thanks be to God.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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