Day 156

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 16:21-23

Wonder and Amazement

As I reflect on the healing of the lame beggar in Acts 3, I am struck by a series of words that appear in the NIV translation: “wonder and amazement,” “astonished,” and “surprise.” I am surprised that people were surprised at God’s presence evidenced in the healing of a lame man at His temple. Weren’t people going to the temple seeking an encounter with God? In fact, what happened was a surprise for everyone involved. The lame man was expecting gold instead of a miracle. Those there that day certainly weren’t expecting these followers of Jesus to be performing miracles. In fact, they were “astonished and came running to them.”

This story is not accompanied with denials or accusations against the disciples. Because of this, I can imagine that those there that day recognized the miracle for what it was. Sadly, we have many who come to our churches today like the lame beggar not really expecting God to intervene in their lives. Others, when God makes Himself known to us, move to deny or resist what has occurred.

Perhaps a different kind of ignorance has set in our hearts, or perhaps it’s the same that the disciples were up against. Either way, I hope that as a Church we resist living in ignorance of God’s presence in our lives, what was accomplished in Jesus Christ, and what Jesus continues to accomplish in people’s lives today. I pray that all of us may live lives that allow us to live in “wonder and amazement,” but still not be surprised at what God can do and does do in our lives.

Jose Rodriguez