MONDAY January 2, 2023

Have Faith in Jesus

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
Acts 3:13-16

God’s Holy Spirit was poured out upon His disciples on the Day of Pentecost. The Apostle Peter became a different man. He was filled and empowered by God’s Spirit. His preaching was bold, and many Jews were being saved. God was using his life tremendously.

It so happened that Peter and John decided to go to the Temple. A man crippled from his birth lay at the gate. Every day he could be found there begging for funds. He laid in front of a beautiful, huge, golden, Corinthian brass gate. According to Josephus it was about 75 feet high and 60 feet wide. He had been crippled since his birth. By faith, Peter spoke to the man––“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

Peter lifted him up, and the crippled man received strength to walk––a miraculous healing happened. Praising God and leaping around, the man walked into the Temple with Peter and John. In humility, Peter gave all the glory to God. It was through the name of Jesus, God’s Servant, that this crippled man walked.

The miracle was validated by the Word of God. In the name of Jesus, this crippled man was made to walk, by the One the Jews had denied and delivered to be crucified. Instead, they had asked for Barabbas––a murderer––to be released to them. Jesus died on the Cross, but Peter and the other disciples were witnesses of His Resurrection! The name of Jesus is powerful. He is the Prince of Life, the Author and Finisher of our great faith.

Faith is reason at rest in God.
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!