SUNDAY November 20, 2022 .
Fix Your Eyes Upon Jesus
And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “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 3:4-6
Peter fixed his eyes on the crippled man. He steadfastly looked at him and said: “Look at us.” Excited, the man must have thought, Alright, I am going to get some coins. Peter first told him, “Silver and gold I do not have.” The man must have been very disappointed when he heard these words. He may have thought to himself, Forget it, I will try and get money from someone else.
Then Peter, a man of God, energized by the power of the Holy Spirit, said something unexpected. Exercising the gift of faith, Peter lifted the crippled man up, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” A crippled man from birth, was instantly healed. Imagine, for the first time in his life, he walked! God did something beautiful at the gate named Beautiful––a miracle happened.
Interestingly, before Jesus was killed, He had gone up to the Temple many times. This crippled man would have seen Jesus. Why did Christ not heal him then? It was not the right time. God chose to use Peter as His instrument. Peter used the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth when he told the man, “Rise up and walk!” Jesus miraculously healed him.
The greater miracle in a person’s life is regeneration––rebirth. It is described so simply for us in Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
God is still in the business of healing people, both physically and spiritually, as well. What is your need today? Fix your eyes upon Jesus. In His name, according to His will and His perfected timing, may He touch your life.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
~Isaiah 53:5 NIV~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
