FILLED WITH WONDER
Acts 3:9-12 NKJV
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.
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Peter and John were heading into the temple at three in the afternoon, the hour of prayer. When a man who had been lame from birth asked for money, he got much more than he asked for. Peter commanded him to rise and walk in Jesus' name. Peter reached down and lifted the lame man up, and his feet and ankles were immediately strengthened. This was amazing that a man who had never walked was jumping and walking, and praising God. There was no denying this miracle.
When the people saw the man walking and praising God, they knew exactly who he was. This man was carried every day to the Beautiful Gate so he could beg money from the people going into the temple. Verse ten says the people were filled with wonder and amazement. But notice the people were not filled with faith. Even after seeing a miracle, it was not faith in God that filled them; it was wonder and amazement.
Peter saw the reaction of the people and began to address them. He first established that it was not he or John who did this miracle. It was not their amazing powers and not their holiness. His message was, Don't look at us. And then, for the next fourteen verses of this chapter, Peter preached Jesus to the people. Why would Peter have to proclaim Jesus to the people who had just witnessed firsthand an obvious miracle? Because miracles may fill people with wonder and amazement, but it's God's Word that fills their hearts with faith.
I have heard some say that if they could just see a miracle it would help their faith. Miracles, signs, and wonders may capture the attention of people, but it's God's Word that gives them the faith to act. On the day of Pentecost, when the people were witnessing the miracle of the one hundred and twenty followers of the Lord speaking in their languages. When they had heard the sound of the rushing mighty wind, no one was saved until Peter preached Jesus.
The interesting thing about miracles is that people can explain them away. The nation of Israel saw miracle after miracle in Egypt and in the wilderness and still doubted God. Miracles may capture your attention. They may spark wonder and amazement at what God has done. But for the faith that we need day in and day out, we still need to feed on God's Word. The apostle Paul, who was used by God to work some outstanding miracles, said it very clearly: "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17 NKJV.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You that You are the God who does miracles. Your great power does amazing things. And thank You for Your Word that caused faith to rise in my heart. I appreciate Your miracles and Your Word!