Have you ever heard the saying, "These are the days"? We usually say this when exciting things happen in our families, work, or community. I imagine that the early church felt this sentiment. They saw God do incredible things through the power of the Holy Spirit as the church was formed and grew. They saw lives changed forever. It was unbelievable! Throughout it all, they constantly pointed to God and His power through them.
When the Holy Spirit healed a man who could not walk through Peter and John in Acts 3, the crowd was amazed. The people in this crowd stared at Peter and John "as though [they] had made this man walk by [their] own power or godliness" (verse 12). Peter took this opportunity to point to Jesus. He clarified that God had healed these men (verse 13). He said, "faith in Jesus' name has healed him before your very eyes" (verse 16). Peter wasted no time pointing the watching crowd straight to Jesus. What an incredible example they set for us.
As we have been thinking all week about meeting the needs of the people around us, it is crucial to understand that the entire reason we meet needs is to point others to Jesus. Ultimately, when we serve, meet needs, and help others, we are making much of Christ, who was the ultimate servant leader and King. So, as we meet needs and serve the people around us, let's make much of Jesus, the King who died to rescue humanity from sin.
Let's follow the example of the early church. What can you do to point to God's power and goodness today? Maybe you can share a story of how He took care of you in a difficult situation or something He did through you through the power of the Holy Spirit with someone. Tell one person about God's power and movement through your own life today. Make much of Him today and every day.
"Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.
17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ 23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
24 “Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. 25 You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”
