What's My Story?

SCRIPTURE: Part of today's reading is the following from Acts 3:
Acts 3 Healing the Lame Beggar

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

OBSERVATION:
A lot of people were familiar with this man who had been crippled and a beggar for many years. They passed by him daily, and many, no doubt, had given him money from time to time. Now he is walking, running, jumping, and praising God. Something amazing has happened to him!
As wonderful and amazing as a miraculous healing is, and I have witnessed it first hand on several occasions, something at least as miraculous, and sometimes even more amazing is the radical change or transformation that can occur when a person truly receives Christ as their Savior and Lord.

APPLICATION:
According to the Scriptures (such as 1st Peter 3:15) it is God's plan to show His power and goodness to people around us by the changes and unusual Christlike qualities they see as they observe us.

PRAYER:
Lord, remind me that my life purpose is not to just fit in with the world, but rather to stand out as different in my heart, values, purpose, passion, behavior, speech, etc., so that people take notice and want to know why I am like I am and how they can be like that too. Amen.