Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Rising in Strength: Experiencing God’s Power in our Weakness

Bible Reading: Acts 9:32-35

Key verse:  

Vs 34-35 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.  And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 

DEVOTION

The preceding verse 31 sets the context of the event described here. After a period of severe persecution the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria experienced peace and was growing.  Peter while visiting these churches came to the church in Lydda.  Lydda was an ancient town ca. 22 miles North West of Jerusalem. It is currently known by its Arabic name Lod and is a suburb of Tel Aviv. Here Peter found a man named Aeneas (meaning “praise”) who was paralyzed for eight years. Peter said to the man “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed”.  Immediately the paralytic was healed and he rose.  All the inhabitants of Lydda and its surroundings who witnessed this great miracle turned to the Lord.
In healing Aeneas Peter is not taking any credit to himself, or claiming any miraculous power. Notice what he says. “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you”.  In Acts 3:6, when healing a cripple from birth, Peter says: “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth walk.” 
Compare that to the Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24), whom Peter rebukes. Some modern day tele-evangelists and their miracle crusades makes one wonder whether they act like Simon Peter or Simon the sorcerer. More importantly, how are we as individuals or as various corporate entities (church organizations) acting? Do we seek our own glory or God’s glory? Let us not forget that we are like broken, earthenware, utterly powerless.  

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we pray that you use us, as your instruments to bring blessings to others through your mighty power. To you belong all glory and honor, for ever.  Amen.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” John 7:18 (ESV)
 

Dr. Mathew Sadhu

Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Frankfort, IL 60423 

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