God, Alive and Active

Scripture:

Peter went off on a mission to visit all the churches. In the course of his travels he arrived in Lydda and met with the believers there. He came across a man—his name was Aeneas—who had been in bed eight years paralyzed. Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” And he did it—jumped right out of bed. Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.  Acts 9:32-35 (The Message)

Observation:

This chapter of Acts is amazing.  First, there is Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and all the following things with Ananias (he was a brave man).  The fact that the disciples in Damascus received Saul and even protected and helped after all that Saul had done against them.  Then there is the wonderful interception of Barnabas on Saul’s behalf in Jerusalem with disciples there and their subsequent acceptance of him.

Peter was on a mission to visit all the churches and in the process came across Aeneas, who had been in bed eight years.  Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you.  Get up and make your bed’.  People began to recognize that God was alive and active among them.  And then Peter went from there to Joppa and raised from death the disciple, Tabitha.  All of this is almost more than you can take in a one time.

Application:

Do I believe that God is truly alive and active among us today?  I do.  I see evidence of prayers being answered for healing of various health issues.  I see God working out things that have been prayers of mine for a long time.  But I still want to believe more and more.

Prayer:

Thank you Father, for being a God that still shows yourself as alive and active among us.  Help my lack of belief.  I want to be your disciple, one that really believes.  AMEN