Devotional Day 56

Scripture

Acts 3:1-16

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, 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? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Devotional

One of the things that can lead to a lot of discouragement is waiting for the Lord to do something in our lives. Maybe you’ve needed healing for years, and after lot’s of genuine prayers to the Lord, receiving prayer and ministry from others and even seeing other people healed - you’ve begun to lose heart. Maybe you’ve been facing the same painful memories and subsequent dysfunctions in your life for so long that you’ve begun to lose hope that Jesus actually wants to heal you. I know that this is case for some of my friends, family, and even myself. There are things that I’ve been bringing to the Lord for years - and although he does bring healing and breakthrough, there are just some areas of my painful past where I have not yet received the healing touch of the Lord.

Today, I feel like the Lord wants to specifically minister to emotional pain, trauma and broken hearts. It can sincerely be exhausting to bring such great pain with us into prayer meetings, moments with the Lord and before our family in Christ for prayer, only to continue to struggle with the pain.

We can begin to feel like Jesus has passed us by.

There’s a high chance that the lame man in this story could have felt this way. We read that he was lame from birth, and that day after day he was brought to the beautiful gate at the temple to beg. It’s likely that this man had been there before Jesus’ ministry - and throughout it. He probably heard the stories of the miracle working prophet that many believed was the Messiah and wondered if Jesus would ever come his way. The interesting thing is, there’s a high chance that this man did get a glimpse of Jesus. We know from the scriptures that Jesus came to the temple at least three times. I wonder if this man felt passed by - Jesus is healing so many, why not me?

If he had faith to be healed, I’m sure that it would have taken a huge hit when he heard that Jesus, who really was proven to be the Messiah by resurrecting after he was crucified, was no longer around but had ascended into heaven. I wonder if you can relate to this in-between moment. You’ve prayed, you’ve contended, you’ve wrestled with God - you’ve asked in humility and sincerity, and you’ve asked out of hurt and frustration - and still, your pain remains.

Well, one day after all the Jesus commotion had seemed to die down a little, the man was in his spot, nestled right under the beautiful gate with his gaze downcast. Asking anyone who came near for some spare change, when he hears the footsteps of two men walking towards him, and without looking up, in a routine and tired voice asks ‘do you have any money?’

He hears nothing - as usual.

Then he hears one of the men say sternly, yet kindly, ‘look at us’.

He looks up and sees two friendly looking men looking right at him. Very unexpectedly, he hears this same then man say to him “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” This man then reached out his hand and helped poor beggar to his feet, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped up, completely shocked, began to walk, and then for the first time in his life walked into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God!

Jesus didn’t pass him by. Jesus hadn’t forgotten him. Even though it had seemed like this man’s opportunity to be healed by Jesus was over, suddenly, in a moment, Jesus had healed him through his friends - Peter and John.

Maybe you feel overlooked today, as though Jesus has moved on from you. I can assure you, he hasn’t. It can be so difficult in the waiting to feel loved by God, the longer we wait the more alone we feel, and yet God will heal every single one of us. Whether it is while we are on earth, or in the new creation - you can rest assured Jesus will heal absolutely every sickness, disease, ailment, painful memory and issue that you have. Don’t lose heart and don’t lose faith, don’t give up and don’t quit - the Lord might just move when you least expect it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, rekindle my faith today - where I have begun to lose heart for healing I pray that you would fan into flame hope and faith today. Heal me Jesus, heal my body, my mind and my heart. Heal the pain that lies deep within me Jesus, I’m tired, and I pray that you would give me hope to persevere in faith. Amen