Acts 3 Devotional

Not by Our Own Power

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.”Acts 3:16 (BSB)

A man lame from birth sits at the temple gate asking for money, and he gets far more than he asked for. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Peter takes him by the hand, and the man who has never walked goes into the temple courts on his own feet, praising God (3:6-8). When a crowd gathers, Peter turns every eye away from himself. He will not let anyone credit the healing to his own power or godliness (3:12).

The real actor is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who has glorified his servant Jesus (3:13). The crowd had rejected the Holy and Righteous One and killed the Author of life, but God raised him (3:14-15). Even so, Peter calls them to turn back so their sins may be wiped away (3:19), and says God sent Jesus first to them to bless them by turning them from their wicked ways (3:26). The turning itself is part of the blessing. Whatever you need to turn from, Jesus offers more than you know to ask for.

To think about: What are you asking God for today, and what might it look like to receive Jesus himself as the greater gift?