Today’s Scripture: Acts 3:19, NKJV- “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
Jesus refreshes us with His presence. The flesh and bones of humankind cannot refresh as Jesus does, but we can share the life He has given us. The people in Acts 3:11 were astonished when they saw the lame man, who had been healed, running towards them. We are told in Acts 3:12, “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? (NIV)
Peter was making it clear that he and John had not healed this man, but it was the power of Jesus. He also made it crystal clear in Acts 3:15 that the Israelites had rejected Jesus and killed the Author and Prince of life, but that God had raised Him from the dead.
God used the testimonies of Peter, John, and the lame man to share the power and love of God through His son Jesus. Acts 3:16 states “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.” (NLT)
Many of us have come to know Jesus because we have witnessed how others have been refreshed. You and I can also share how we were once crippled in our sins but through our faith in Jesus and the repentance of our sins, He has turned us around.
We do not save others, but we can bless others by helping to point them to the Messiah that God and His prophets promised. As Acts 3:25 reminds us, “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’” (NIV) God can use us to bless others.
In Acts 3:26 Peter reminds us that God sent Jesus to turn us from our wicked ways. Telling others of how He turned us, can serve the Lord by blessing and turning others to Him. If we have experienced the refreshing power of Jesus Christ, we must share our stories so others too may experience His saving grace.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to us. Forgive us for our ignorance that rejects Him. Thank You for raising Him and our lives so we can encourage others to seek the One who has refreshed us with His presence. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we do pray. Amen.
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