The Sequel (Acts 3:8b-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/30/2017 9:27 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                          Focus:  The Sequel

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 3:8b-11

            Message of the verses:  “and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.”

            In his commentary John MacArthur points out three results of the miraculous healing of the lame beggar, and we will look at these three in our SD for today.

            The first result was joy to the beggar himself, which he expressed by praising God.

            The second result was praise and worship toward the Lord.  MacArthur adds “Mere participation in a religious service does not in itself guarantee true worship.  The most genuine worship of God likely to have taken place that day in the temple was the praise of the beggar.”

            The third result of the miracle could be seen in the testimony of the people.  Can you imagine being one of the people who were there in the temple that day seeing the same man who sat at the beautiful gate for years and years because he could not walk and then you see him hopping and jumping around because of the great miracle that the Lord had done for him?  It surely would have lifted up your worship to the Lord to see this happen.  No one could deny the wonderful miracle that had taken place. 

            In an earlier SD from Acts 2:22 we said that God designed miracles to act as signs to attract attention which would then point people to the truth that it was the Lord who did the miracle.  This miracle surely did attract attention and it would continue to attract attention as we continue looking at the results of this wonderful miracle in the next SD which will be about Peter’s powerful sermon that he will preach as the people will be ready to hear more about the greatest miracle and that is the miracle of salvation. The miracle that took place on the Day of Pentecost provided a great introduction to Peter’s first sermon and now this miracle will provide another introduction for his next sermon.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Nobleman” (John 4:49).

Today’s Bible question:  “On which mountain did Moses see the burning bush?”  (The answer may surprise you?)

Answer in our next SD.

8/30/2017 9:54 AM