The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 3:11-16, “And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.
12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?
13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

Have you ever done something nice for someone only to find that they wanted thereafter to stick by you seemingly forever? That’s what happened to Peter and John. The LORD had healed the lame man and he just wanted to stay with them wherever they went. They never rejected him, but they wanted all the people who had witnessed the miracle of the man’s healing to know that it was the LORD, and not they themselves, who had healed the man.

It’s important that we always acknowledge the LORD’s work in our lives. He may use us in His process, but the ultimate work is always His alone. Peter took the opportunity to praise and glorify the LORD. Simultaneously, he inserted prophecy that foretold of Jesus, and indicted the people for having caused Pilate to release a murderer, instead of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Peter then declared that it was the power of Christ, whom the people had crucified, that was responsible for the healing of the lame man.

Do we always acknowledge the working power of Christ in our lives? Or do we only praise those men and women through whom the LORD has worked to help us? Do you think that lame man who was healed ever forgot his healing? Do you believe he ultimately committed himself to Christ, to whom He owed it all? We’re not told what happened to him, but what about us? Do we acknowledge the LORD’s work in us and through our lives? Or do we stop with an acknowledgement of those whom He used?

Think about the LORD’s use of your life today. Be open with others about what He has done for you. We are first to know Him; then we are to praise Him; and then we are to share Him with others, who need Him. May God bless you as you seek to fulfill His work through you today!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom