Read the Word:
Acts 9:32-35
Meditate on the Word:
On Sunday, we discussed the event immediately following this one. Tabitha (Dorcas) was dead until being prayed over by Peter, then she was alive. Many people believed because of this raising from the dead. Similarly, when Peter encounters Aeneas, he has been paralyzed for eight years until Peter declared him to be healed. Specifically, he said, “Jesus Christ heals you.” This can lead to the question, “Why do we not see the miraculous healings today?” I think that one of the answers is that we do not necessarily rightly understand the purpose of the miracles.
Peter, in raising Aeneas from his bed, did what Jesus had done in John 5:1-8. In raising Dorcas, Peter did what he had seen Jesus do in Luke 8:50-55. Jesus’ healings were always done with the purpose of glorifying God and demonstrating His power. The miracles of Peter and the other apostles were given to them to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit in them and the truth of their message. These healings were done so that people would believe in Christ. Now, we have the New Testament to help us to believe in and understand Christ.
Does that mean that we do not see miracles today? Of course not! I think that many miracles today are simply misattributed to other things such as coincidence, luck, modern medicine, etc. Perhaps if we take the time to recognize the One who truly heals, we will notice more of His work around us.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord to reveal a miracle to you that you have previously overlooked. Thank Him for this.
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