The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 27 April 2020 – Ready Vessels For God’s Miraculous Manifestation

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TOPIC: Ready Vessels For God’s Miraculous Manifestation

READ: ACTS 3:1-10 (NKJV)

  1. Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth [hour.]
  2. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
  3. who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
  4. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
  5. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
  6. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
  7. And he took him by the right hand and lifted [him] up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
  8. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God.
  9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
  10. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

THE MESSAGE:

We read today about a lame man at the Beautiful Gate when Peter and John went up for prayer. The lame man was laid daily at the gate; unfortunately, despite the name of the gate, there was nothing beautiful about his condition. His only gain from the temple was the alms he received from the worshippers. He never expected a miracle of healing and that was why he looked up to the disciples for alms. He was always at the gate and never got into the temple for worship! Does this depict your situation today? You just go to Church or fellowship to fulfil all righteousness but your problems have remained unchanged over the years, like the lame man? Be strengthened, God still meets people, without special programmes, at the gate, inside the Church, home or work place!

Peter and John did not need to go back to fast and pray before ministering to the lame man. They were ready instruments of God’s power. This miracle upturned the normal ritualistic prayer into a miraculous celebration. As Christians, we need to be ready vessels to change normal situations for the glory of God. Note that they lifted up the lame man for the miracle to be complete. Hence, lift up weak brethren so that the will of God will be actualised in their lives.

PRAYER: Lord, please use me as a ready instrument to bring down Your miracle to the nagging problems of our society.