Slices
Prepare
Do you need a miracle today? Ask God to intervene in your situation.
Bible passage
The apostles heal many
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought those who were ill into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Explore
The early days of the church in Jerusalem must have been so exciting. People were being healed left, right and centre: even Peter’s shadow was bringing healing. The apostles must have thought often of Jesus’ promise that they would do greater works than he did (John 14:12).
Ignoring the first church was not an option for those living nearby: the believers gathered in a public place (v 12) and probably made a lot of noise. It’s hard to keep quiet when you’ve just been miraculously healed! So the local people had to make a choice. Either believe and join the church (v 14) or keep as far away as possible (v 13). Indifference was not an option.
I wonder why people remained sceptical in the face of so many miracles. Maybe they thought it was all a fraud, or they might have believed the miracles to be demonic, as Jesus was accused of in Matthew 12:24–28. Perhaps some foresaw the coming persecution and were afraid of what would happen to them if they joined. And maybe there were some who just wanted to get on with their ordinary lives and not have to face up to the fact that God was doing something new. I suspect many of the reasons are similar today.
Respond
Pray that God would make his presence known in your church community to such an extent that those on the outside respond to him.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 35,36; Luke 1:39–80
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Sarah Howard Smith, Support Worker in the north region, as she prepares for the Edale holiday this summer where she will be working in the kitchen and co-leading. Pray that the children will come to a deeper understanding of who God is and what he could mean to them.
