Jan. 27, 2014

Acts 3:  ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Peter has just healed the blind beggar.  The people are amazed.  He is explaining that he lacks the power to do things like this, but that God, through Jesus, didn't.  The people did not understand who Jesus was or all he was capable of doing, and Peter wants them to understand this.  These were people who had a chance to redeem themselves while Jesus was still on Earth.  They didn't.

The OT readings today include the 10 Commandments.  Put them together with this part of Acts, and you have a good summary of how to live.  The Law was given by God before He gave us His son.  The Law was good, but it was incomplete, b/c we are not capable of living the lives God wants for us on our own.  We need a Messiah, one who gives us mercy and forgiveness when we go wrong.  We can even "kill the author of life," and God still stands by us.  The risen Christ is our strongest ally.

Prayer:  Praise be to our God and his wondrous ways!  He has watched His people, He has seen us stumble time and again, but He never leaves our sides.  God sent His own son to suffer and die for us; then He raised him to be our merciful friend for eternity.  Who could ask for more?
Amen