The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Wonder and Amazement"
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him" (Acts 3:9-10).
We certainly understand "wonder and amazement" experienced by the witnesses who saw the healing of the lame man. The same sensibility could easily accompany our own walk with our Lord when we trust and obey Him in any manner whatsoever. Indeed, only the imparting of the life and power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ can enable even the most seemingly insignificant step of obedience to God. The Apostle Paul describes the matter in stark terms, confirming the words of the Lord Jesus...
"if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (enliven) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:10-11).
"Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Paul declares believers to be living spirits, alive in Christ, who live in dead bodies, meaning that our earthly members and faculties do not yet live in the direct presence of our Lord's risen life. "This mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:33). Thus, a miracle of resurrection occurs every time a believer thinks, speaks, acts, and relates in accordance with the will of God. As we trust and submit to Him, the Holy Spirit imparts the life of Christ that dwells in our spirits to our members and faculties. Thus, if we could see things more clearly, "wonder and amazement" would overwhelm us with joy when we perform even the smallest act of faith and faithfulness. Like the walking, formerly lame man, we would be found "leaping and praising God."
I often think of this when giving thanks for a meal. Scripture calls us to do so, making the matter one of obedience (I Timothy 4:3-4). The simplicity of the act can make it seem as little more than ritual. However, if performed sincerely, such seemingly simple obedience actually requires the risen life of Christ to motivate, guide, and enable our "body… dead because of sin" to act as empowered by God. We would have no desire or inclination to give thanks in so simple a matter were it not that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). We will not often think of the act in such terms, nor will bells and whistles sound as we give thanks. Like the moment of our Lord's resurrection, witnessed by no human eyes, the innumerable risings to obedience in the life of believers nearly all occur quietly and with no pomp or fanfare. However, the power of the risen Christ enables all as our faith and faithfulness confirms His empty tomb and the sublimely declared "power of an endless life" affirmed by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 7:16).
"Wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him." A lame man walked. He leapt! Little wonder the witnesses found themselves astounded by such grace so powerfully revealed. We do well to realize how much the historical account applies to our personal history, including this day. We possess no inherent capacity for obedience to God. "The body is dead because of sin." Nor do we require such ability. We rather possess within our spirits the Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus to empower all faith and faithfulness. Thereby, mostly quiet resurrections occur throughout our days as we trust God. Lame people walk. Dead bodies live. In the will of God. If we could see more clearly, every faithful thought, word, or deed would lead us in wonder and amazement at that which has happened unto us, all to the glory of the Lord Jesus and His present and indwelling "power of an endless life."
"We shall live with Him by the power of God."
(II Corinthians 13:4)
Weekly Memory Verse
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(Hebrews 7:15-16)
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