The Apostles Heal Many

PRAYER PRACTICE

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

DAILY READING

Acts 5:12-16

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

I Want What You Have

by Judy Webb

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. (verses 12 and 13)

It seems every day I begin to study the daily reading I am assigned to write on, I am amazed at what I see on the page. Familiar texts suddenly take on new meaning. It is as if I am reading the words for the first time. Then when I go to a study Bible or a commentary, I have an entirely new take on the words. I know it is because God's Word is living and active, and each time I read from it, I am in a new place and my world view has changed. Scripture doesn't change, but my understanding of it does. I see a new application for me to practice and embrace.

It is always fun for me to observe these phenomena and dig in to discover what gem God has waiting for me this time. Today, the words from verse 13 puzzled me and left me wanting to know more. "No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people." (NIV) What does this mean? The Voice version reads like this: enjoying great respect by the people of the city—though most people wouldn’t risk publicly affiliating with them.

It seems there must have been fear. Perhaps fear of being found out by the religious leaders that they were associating with followers of the Way. But more likely they were afraid of what God might do once it was obvious that they didn't totally believe or understand things, especially in light of the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira. Some feared to associate with the believers. 

I remember many years ago I was fearful to attend church, not so much because I would be found out, but because I might have to give up the way of life I enjoyed at the time. But I continued to attend and before long, I wanted what these believers had; I wanted the fellowship and the easy spirit they seemed to possess. They smiled much more than I, they were nicer people to be around than I, and I wanted that experience. It was all very appealing to me then. It still is today.

Jesus, thank you for your Word, for how it speaks to my heart in new ways each time I read. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for imparting wisdom and for convicting my heart to follow Jesus.

Acts 5:14-16 (NIV) Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

What is it that might draw our friends to church? How can we portray what our church has to offer our relatives who don't yet know the joy of a relationship with the Savior? Do we boast about the various programs they will find that will help them with their finances, heir marriage? Do we brag about our Vacation Bible School production when we invite them to bring their children?

Just what is it that makes us want to invite those we care about to experience our church? Do we want them to see the beautiful building; are we anxious to share the fellowship experience with those we care about? Before we invite someone to join us, perhaps we need to consider why we attend church. 

It might be wise to discover why we are drawn to get up on Sunday morning, the one day we might sleep in, and go to church. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Exciting programs might get our loved ones and their children into the building, but what is it that will keep them coming back? I must ask myself what caused me to return week after week. What was it about my church that was different from other things in my life? Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

Looking back, I know that I felt something different when worshiping, my heart was comforted like never before and I wanted to have more of this. I know now it was the Holy Spirit's presence in the gathering, the peaceful feeling that seemed to be in the air. God used the people around me to help me feel like I was home. My tormented spirit encountered the Holy Spirit of God. Life will never be the same.

Acts 5:12-16