Surprised by the Power of God- Acts 3:12-16

Original photo by Flickr user Followtheseinstructions

Don't get me wrong...I'm very thankful to live in the time that we live. I am thankful for the technology and the medical advances that we have today. I thank God often for the doctors and the nurses and the machines that were used to help give my 2.5 month preemie daughters a very healthy life today. (They will turn 4 tomorrow and couldn't be healthier!)

Yes, I'm incredibly thankful for all of that. Even so...every once in a while when I read a passage like Acts 3, the curious part of me almost wishes we didn't have all of these advances in technology and medicine just so I could really understand the surprise referred to when Peter said, "Why does this surprise you?"

We have gotten so used to "medical miracles" that it almost doesn't even phase us anymore when someone gets a heart transplant and gets a new lease on life. (That is unless you are the one getting the transplant!)

But try to put yourself back in the first century. Picture being a regular in the temple area and seeing the lame beggar every single day. And then today, from across the courtyard, you see a man talking to him, and then you watch him stand up and start jumping around praising God! How curious would you be about Peter at that point!!?

I love Peter's response to all of the attention. There is no time wasted. There is no false modesty or bumbling thanks for all of the praise that he is getting. There is just an almost incredulous question about why in the world they are surprised and an immediate segue-way into the death and resurrection and power of the Christ. Peter immediately reminds them that this isn't the first time a lame man walked and it won't be the last! Many of the Jews gathered around had likely seen some of the miracles Jesus performed. Why should this one surprise them!? It surprised them, because just like everyone else, they thought when Jesus died, the hope of His being the Messiah died with Him. But they were wrong because they did not understand that death could not keep Him!

I can't help but think of a couple questions that may be worth thinking about as we ponder the work of God in our own time:

1. Why are we not "surprising" more people today with the power of the name of Christ evidenced in changed lives? Yes, yes, I know all about the arguments about how the Holy Spirit works differently today. But however, you believe that He works, please don't try to tell me that He doesn't, or can't work!! I know God's power is not "switched on" based on us "doing religion" right. But is it possible that we limit the work of God because deep down, we have become content with a watered down version of the gospel that Paul said had the power to save all who believe? (Rom. 1:16) Do we not offer what we have to people because we subconsciously deem them beyond the saving power of the name of Christ and therefore we stop the power of the Spirit before it even gets to the person in whom He wishes to be glorified?
2. Are we as quick to point to Christ as the source of our successes? I heard a sermon by David Platt a while back in which he was talking about visiting some Christians in a foreign nation where Christianity was almost non-existent. The men he was talking to had decided at one point to just start going to different villages praying that God would show them someone to share the gospel with. And He did. And He kept showing them more and more people in more and more villages and churches were beginning there and flourishing. Platt asked them how they were being so effective. Their response was that it was the power of God. It has been a while since I first heard that story so some of the details may not be exact (If you know them, please correct me). But what I do remember very plainly was David Platt finishing the story talking desperately about his desire to be a part of something that was so absolutely clearly accomplished by the power of God alone. He wanted to be involved in a work that in no way could be attributed to human means and human effort. It could only be God's power that was accomplishing it. Is that our real motivation in the things we do every day? Is that what we are looking for in our churches and in our homes? Do we seek to really draw attention to God in everything that we do or are we content to merely be good people who are going to heaven some day without looking for ways to demonstrate the power of God today?

May we be a people that always seeks to give God glory in everything. And may we be a people that really recognizes God's glory and power for what it truly is so that people will once again be "surprised" as they witness what can only be attributed to the work of God in someone's life.