SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/28/2017
9:47 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
The Sign
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 3:4-8a
Message of the
verses: “4 But Peter, along with
John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5 And he began to
give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver
and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the
Nazarene-walk!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and
immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood
upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and
leaping.”
John MacArthur begins his commentary on this section by
stating that there are four aspects of this miracle that are noteworthy: “it was unexpected, it was done in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was instantaneous, and it was complete.” Now we will look at this first two aspects of
this miracle in our Spiritual Diary this morning and then look at the final two
in our next SD.
IT WAS UNEXPECTED
This section covers verses 3-6a which are seen at the top
of the page. What we are looking at
first here is the word in the Greek for “fixed his gaze upon.” This word is Atenizo and MacArthur states that it “is the same word used in 1:10
to describe the apostles’ intense gaze at the ascending Lord.” This must have been some gaze that they used
to look at this man if it is compared to seeing our Lord ascend into
heaven. Next we see that this man was
told to look at them (Peter and John).
The beggar though that he was going to get some money from these two men
and was probably excited about this prospect, but his excitement would be even
more intense after he receives what they have for him.
MacArthur concludes this section: “Like all of God’s works, this miracle was
based on God’s sovereign will. There were
hundreds of other beggars in Jerusalem, many of them undoubtedly crippled as
well. But it was this man that God
sovereignly chose to receive haling.
Expecting only some money to help momentarily ease his desperate
situation, the beggar instead received far more than he would have ever
dreamed.”
IT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
“In the name of Jesus
Christ the Nazarene—walk! (Acts 3:6b)
When I look back at all the people that Jesus healed
during His three year ministry I know that there must have been thousands
healed from various difficulties as surely not all of them are mentioned as
John states at the end of his gospel.
Perhaps this man had heard of Jesus, but had no reason to believe on Him
because he was still crippled. Perhaps
this man had heard that Jesus had been executed as being a blasphemer, and so
he had no reason to believe on him, but now he will hear His name as Peter uses
His name in order to heal this man.
MacArthur writes “In the name of means by virtue of Christ’s character,
authority, and power.” We looked earlier
at “Jesus Christ the Nazarene” as we saw it was a common designation of our
Lord which was used during His earthly ministry. We looked earlier also at praying in the name
of Jesus when we studied the gospel of John noting that by doing this what we
are praying about had to be in His will, and Peter surely knew that it was in
the will of our Lord to have this man healed and we will see why as we move
forward in this third chapter of the book of Acts.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I am coming to
realize that the things I pray for have to be in the will of our Lord, realizing
also that He is the One who is in control of all things including the things
that I pray for. God is not my personal “Jeanie”
but I am His seeking to do what He desires me to do.
My Steps of Faith for Today: As I begin to prepare for teaching the book
of Revelation in our Sunday school class I trust that I will be humble trusting
the Lord to show me the things that He wants me to bring out from this
wonderful book that will bring glory to my Lord.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “The Pharisees” (Luke 11:43).
Today’s Bible
question: “What was Judas paid for
betraying Jesus?”
Answer in our next SD.
8/28/2017 10:17 AM
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