As Peter and John healed the lame beggar, the beggar was amazed, the crowd was amazed, and I am sure there was quite the fanfare. But for Peter and John, there was no question who deserved the glory and the credit–God. Immediately as the crowd gathered, Peter began another amazing Gospel presentation to His fellow Jewish brothers and sisters. In effect, Peter let them know that the Savior they had killed, was now alive and had completed the plan He set out to execute. He died for the people’s sin and then rose from the dead to beat death and the grave.
The crowd was awestruck. Their hearts were pierced with guilt, but also with a longing to be freed from sin and death. Sure, the healing of the lame man was amazing, but not nearly as amazing as the gift of salvation that the Messiah’s death and resurrection had provided. Now as Peter preached, he never considered anything but the Savior and His Saving sacrifice. To God be the glory for the great things He has done.
Now, these many years later, we still see God’s grace and mercy born out each day. In such a broken world, it is only His love and sacrifice that keeps us going. We live in a world of utter chaos and despair. Hatred and violence are present at every turn. Still, in the midst of the broken world, God still extends His love and forgiveness to any and all whom would believe. As with Peter, we still can share God’s love and gift with any and all whom would listen. We do this, not for our glory–but for the glory of Our Savior and Lord.
God Bless You
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant[b] Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus[c] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Walking With God 