Earlier this week, we talked about the truth that when we say “Yes” to follow Jesus, we are not left on our own to try to live this Christian life. God works in and through us. This makes all the difference. We have limits, imperfections, and flaws. God is limitless, perfect, and flawless. That means that He takes what little we have to give and does infinitely more than we can imagine.
This week in our Bible study, we have taken a deep look at the moment Jesus called Peter, one of His disciples. As we have seen in our Bible study together throughout the week, Jesus saw His great plans for Peter to be a fully devoted follower who would do remarkable things for Him and His kingdom. Throughout the book of Acts, we see just how God used Peter as the early church formed and spread Christianity throughout the world. In Acts 3, Peter and John, another disciple of Jesus, encountered a man who could not walk. He asked them for money, but they offered something far greater (verse 3). Peter said to this man, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (verse 6). At that, the man could walk again (verse 7). In fact, he did not just walk. He “went into the Temple” “walking, leaping, and praising God” (verse 8). This miracle from God left everyone who saw it “astounded” and “amazed” (verses 10-11). As a result, in the following verses, Peter boldly preached to everyone who had seen the miracle, explaining that what had just happened was solely an act of God (verse 13). He also called them to repent of their sins and “turn to God” (verse 19). Indeed, God used Peter in remarkable ways. This story is just one example.
What do you think Peter would have thought when Jesus called Him to be His follower if he had known that one day, God would heal a man who had been unable to walk by using him, or that he would boldly proclaim to thousands of people to turn to God and away from their sins? I think Peter would have been amazed at what God would do through him and his willingness to follow Christ. God also wants to use you, my friend, to have a profound impact. If you will follow Him in faith, He will do more than you could imagine in and through your life!
Commit this weekend to praising God for all that He does in and through our lives. One of the ways that you can praise Him for all He does in our lives is by worshiping with us during the weekend services. Make plans this weekend to join us at one of our weekend services, praising God for the ways He has worked and the ways He will continue to work in your own life.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, as I remember the ways You have worked in my life and look forward to the ways You will work, I praise You for…”
1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
12 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.”
