June 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 3:1–8

Devotional

The lame beggar had been sitting at the Beautiful gate of the temple, but now he is healed. The root of his misery was his sin. Ultimately a person needs salvation. One can experience many physical blessings and still remain unconverted. How were matters with this beggar? Was he only physically healed or was he also saved by God’s grace? We know he was healed physically and spiritually. How do we know this? We determine his condition by looking at the fruit in his life. What are the fruits in his life?

This man can now walk; he can move about; he can go where he pleases. Where does he now go? Does he go home to his loved ones? Does he go into the world? No, he goes into the temple. When one truly knows something of his misery and experiences something of God’s deliverance, then there will always be a manifestation of true gratitude. There will be a service of love to the Lord.

Therefore the question is important: Where does this man go after he is healed? The same question is also put to you. Maybe you have been healed from sickness, or delivered from difficulties and cares. Perhaps you have had much deliverance in your life. Whoever you are, young or old, remember that God has given us all many undeserved blessings in life. Where have all these blessings brought you? Have they led you closer to God? Have God’s mercies humbled and softened you?

The beggar did not say, “Thank you very much and now I will be on my way.” He uses his healthy legs and feet to immediately go into the temple. This man ends in God. He realizes that God is worthy to be honored and served. He uses the first strength he has to go up to the temple, that is, to God.

The temple is the place where sacrifices are brought. What sacrifice could this man bring? He was a beggar. He could now say: “Lord, silver and gold have I none, but what I have is a pair of healthy legs, by Thy grace, and these I will gladly devote to Thy service.” He is indeed spiritually healed!

People of God, has the Lord not shown you His grace? Has He not caused you to see His loving-kindness? Is there now no reason for shame when you consider your life of gratitude? Have you not fallen short? If you know true deliverance, you will seek to honor God in your life. And if you have never ended in the Giver and have never found joy in serving Him in love, then you must consider whether your deliverance was genuine. True salvation leads to love for God. Then you can say withthe psalmist, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications” (Ps. 116:1). You pray: Take my life; let it be dedicated to Thee.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.