December 6, 2007 - Acts 3:12

“When Peter saw this, he said to them: ‘People of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?’” Acts 3:12.
Peter and John are standing just outside the Temple along side of the man who God had just healed. An amazed crowd was gathering to see the results of this miracle, and Peter communicated clearly to the crowd that it was not them, but God, who had healed this man. Apparently, Peter and John were not surprised at God’s healing activity, but the crowd, on the other hand, acted in such a manner that Peter asked why they were so surprised.
I must admit that, if I was in that crowd on that day, I would have been surprised too. How about you? As I go through the normal routine on my normal day, I must admit that I would be startled if God moved in this kind of way. I do not see this type of thing happen in my “normal Christian life” and I would at least be surprised, if not shocked! And I have experienced God’s movement at different times in my life. What if a person had never experienced God’s divine intervention in their life? Can you imagine the shock at witnessing that happen? No wonder the crowd was ‘surprised.’
Have you ever seen God intersect with the normal activity of your life? Have you experienced a dramatic healing or a sovereign movement of God in your time and space life? If you have had that experience in your life, remember and reflect on what that was like in your life. What were some of the marks of that moment in your life? For me, after I got over the overwhelming shock, I sensed peace, joy, and an overwhelming sense of being cared for and loved. I, also, felt a strong sense of not deserving His touch; a sense of unworthiness.
Questions to consider: If you were in that crowd on that day, how would you have responded? If God was to move in the time and space of your life, how would you respond? Are you, in any way, expecting God or needing God to move in your life?
Prayer: Thank You, God, that You are a God who loves to intervene and be involved in our world. Please give us eyes to see and a heart to sense Your activity in our life. Help me to not be so surprised when You intersect with our lives. Amen.