Wonder and Amazement

There are many things in this world that catch my attention, a colorful sunset, birds chirping in the early morning and the many beautiful types of flowers, just to name a few. Spring is a season of new life and it’s amazing to take in all the splendor of the colors and scents that come with it.

One of my favorite plants is the bleeding heart. Every year when they bloom I am in awe of the incredible detail of each little heart. They are perfect in shape and I always think, “Wow God, you’re amazing!”

In our story of the healed beggar even bigger, more permanent changes took place. Not only was the man healed, but he was a walking testimony of the power of God, which caused people to take notice and listen to the message of salvation.

In Acts 3: 9-10 we read, “And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Consider this; “If this man was more than 40 years old, and had been crippled since birth, and was a familiar sight at this temple gate, then Jesus must have passed him by many times without healing him. Why? Because God’s timing is just as important as His will, and it was for the greater glory of God that Jesus heal this man from heaven through His apostles.” (Blue Letter Bible)

Think about when you received Christ. It was in God’s perfect timing whether you were born into a believing family and knew Him at a young age or if you were older and answered His call later on in life. It is all for His glory.

Like the crowd around this man, several of my family members took notice of the change in me. Though they were amazed at my decision and eager to see what difference this choice would make in my life, it wasn’t because they believed, but rather that my choice to leave my past beliefs behind, which had been family tradition for many years, created a crisis of belief.

That crisis of belief was for me as much as it was for them. Did I really believe what my new faith taught? For them, it challenged what they had believed for generations.

It was the same in this bible story. The people were in awe of the miracle but knew nothing of the saving grace of Jesus, so Peter shared the message with them. His message was all about Jesus, not on anything he had done. “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (Acts 3:12)

“We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given complete healing to him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16)

He continued the message with Acts 3:19-20, “Repent, then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.” That’s the ultimate miracle that should bring wonder and amazement to all of us, a saved soul.

A saved soul is a new believer, a new creation in Christ. As the flowers begin to bloom they remind us of new life, new beginnings, new creations and it’s a beautiful thing that the timing of spring is also time for the resurrection celebration of Easter.

Jesus is the reason we experience wonder and amazement. Because of Him we get a new life. We get to leave behind the past and move forward in a relationship with Him. Like the man in our story, we too get to be walking testimonies of the power of God in our lives. I pray the Lord will help me live my life so that people will see a changed life and think, “Wow God, you’re amazing!” “I want to know you too.”

My prayer

Father, thank you for changing my life and for saving me. Please help my life to point others to You so that they can experience the wonder and amazement that a relationship with You provides. I am in awe of You Lord. Thank you for the new life reminders of spring and for the season to celebrate Your resurrection! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”