TO CHEW ON: "So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God." Acts 3:8
Notice that this man, lame-no-more, doesn't praise Peter for his healing, but God. Of course Peter focuses attention away from himself when he first pronounces the man healed ("In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" Acts 3:6).
When we look beyond our reading, we see the crowd's reaction. They are amazed at this man, who has never walked before, now walking and leaping about, and they gawk at Peter and John. But Peter is quick to turn the crowd's attention back to God: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?" (Acts 3:12). And he goes on to give all the credit to Jesus (Acts 3:16).
Are we as quick to give credit where it is due? To acknowledge that it is the power of God that performs miracles of healing, financial sufficiency, and protection? That it is God the Spirit who makes Bible words live through our halting explanations and stories of personal experience?
PRAYER: Dear God, I confess I often accept praise that is rightfully Yours. Help me to have the attitude that deflects glory / compliments / praise back on You, not in a sanctimonious way, but in realistic humility. Amen.
MORE: Some verses to think about / memorize:
"Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." - John 15:4-5 (Amplified)
*********"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (New Living Translation)
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked Amplified are taken from the Amplified® Bible,
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
