Acts 14-15

The second lame man to be healed in Acts is in Acts 14. This man had never walked, but in an instant he was healed and able to walk.  Paul describes the source of this miracle as “a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them”. Further evidence of God’s existence and mercy could be found in “rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness”.

Although this miracle is one of many in Acts, it highlights God’s mercy and power.  While it takes months for us to learn to walk, this man could walk immediately.  God’s arm is not short that it cannot save. Paul later declares that “a door of faith to the Gentiles” had been opened, extending the offer and knowledge of God’s mercy to us.

Like the Gentiles of Paul’s day, we look forward to a time when God “will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it”. While we wait, let’s seek God, and demonstrate in our lives that we have been adopted into God’s family, surnamed by His name.

Acts 13

In Acts 13, Paul delivers the gospel message to the Jews in Antioch. “we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus… through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses“.

This promise and forgiveness is also available to us.  Freed from being servants of sin, let us become servants of righteousness, developing “fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life“.