Good Morning Friends,
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,
said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to
account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was
healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,
that this man stands before you healed. He is “the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is
no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’” (Acts
4:8-12)
Somewhere Peter found his courage! It wasn’t
so very many days earlier that he had denied even knowing Jesus. In the
courtyard of the high priest’s house, while Jesus was on trial, Peter wouldn’t
even tell the servant girl that he was a follower of Jesus. Now, he boldly
proclaims it right in front of the “rulers, elders, and teachers of the law.”
(Acts 4:5) These were the very same people who had plotted Jesus’ death and
succeeded in bringing it to pass.
So, where did this newfound courage come
from? There is a clue in the opening verse of this passage, “Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit.” It’s the power that Jesus had promised. Standing on the
mountain, ready to ascend back to heaven, Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem
for “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8) The
Holy Spirit did come upon them on Pentecost, and Peter would never be the same
after that!
Peter demonstrates a truth that we all live
with: left to our own devices and our own power and courage, we will fail the
Lord. But we aren’t left only with our own devices and power and courage. God
provides His wisdom, His power, His courage through the Holy Spirit He gives to
every believer.
There are times when I forget where the power
comes from. There are times when I think I’m doing O.K. on my own. How foolish
of me! It’s all from the Lord through His Spirit.
His, by Grace,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment