The Essential Question (Part 5): The Good News Is for EveryoneSample

Bold Humility

Prepare: Begin your quiet time with some breathing prayer. Breathe out worries and cares. Breathe in thanks and praise. Repeat.

Read: Acts 9:32-43

Reflect: Over the years I've enjoyed reading historical novels such as James Michener's Chesapeake. Each chapter tells the story of a different character and by the end all the stories weave together into one big narrative. That's a little like what Luke does in Acts. So far he's told the stories of Peter, John, Stephen, Philip and Paul. Together they give us a picture of how the first church grew. It makes for a good read, but we need to remember, Acts is history, not a novel.

In this reading we pick up Peter's story again, and the dominant theme is healing. Some are uncomfortable with this aspect of the Christian experience. Perhaps that's due to the way healing is presented in the media, or the way some televangelists seem to sensationalize it. But the obvious point of Luke's account is this: healing happens, so we shouldn't dismiss it because of the excesses.

Note that there doesn't seem to be some kind of magic formula to healing. With Aeneas, Peter appealed to Jesus Christ (9:34). With Dorcas (Tabitha), Peter prayed, then issued a direct command (9:40). The thing these healings have in common is they both had the same effect: "many people believed in the Lord" (9:35, 42). We should be skeptical of any healing ministry today that puts too much attention on the human vehicle. Healing should turn people to God.

With this in mind, put yourself in Peter's shoes here. What do you think he was feeling prior to each of these healings? The situation with Aeneas may have seemed familiar (see Acts 3:1-10); restoring a paralytic was a "normal" healing. But imagine how he felt when the messengers asked him to bring a dead woman back to life. Is this really possible? Am I going to disappoint these good people and embarrass myself? We don't know exactly what he thought or felt, but we do know he took it all to God in prayer (9:40). When Peter said amen he was ready to take a bold step of faith: "Tabitha, get up."

If you want to make a difference for God today, there are times when you must take the risk of prayerfully stepping into a challenging, even impossible situation. Peter gives us an example of the kind of bold humility God blesses.

Apply: What is the most challenging situation you are facing today? Spend some time praying about it, asking God for direction and for a sense of bold humility.