ALIGNMENT
The day after Pentecost, Peter and John were on their way to the temple. They had just experienced the amazing power of God indwelling them in the form of the Holy Spirit and seen thousands of lives transformed. I imagine they were walking in awe and wonder of all they had seen and experienced. As they came, a man crippled from birth saw them and begged them for money. (I can almost see Peter and John looking at each other and giving a fist bump.) They looked at the man begging and told him to look at them. Expecting a gift, he looked at them and Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8)
Wow, reading this again gives me chills. I am struck by how much God loves us and all that He has given us to go out into the world and boldly bring Jesus to those in need. Jesus Himself said in John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works,..” Just like Peter and John we have been given the Holy Spirit to indwell us, and we have received power and authority to bring Jesus to others and to do the works He did and even greater. What if we, like these disciples, operated in alignment with God, filled with His Spirit and had awareness of all that we had. Then what we have received we could give to those around us.
God is always at work to draw people to Himself and to heal and restore the broken. He wants to fill us with His power and love, so it overflows to the world. And when we tune the eyes of our hearts to hear and receive, we can join Him in the miracles He is wanting to do, His kingdom work.
This season as we remember our Savior’s death and celebrate His resurrection at Easter, may we all continue to be transformed into the likeness of Christ and bring what we have been given, God’s love and power to all we meet.
“May the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus be with you. I send my love to all who are joined in the life of Jesus, the Anointed One.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)
Betsy O’Callaghan