A man formerly lame but now healed stood with the apostles Peter and John. A crowd gathered and stood wide-eyed and amazed.
“But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?”
Peter’s question is one that I find to be a blessing when I ask it of myself. Am I trusting in my own power or piety? Why do I think it’s up to me to convince others? Why do I think I need to be able to solve others’ problems? Why do I think I should never have struggles, doubts or fears? Why do I think I should never be haunted by old habits or attitudes? How do these things affect my view of myself? Am I trusting in my own power and piety or am I trusting in who I am in Christ despite all of that?
When it comes to God working in us and through us it is always His power and grace.
As the apostle Paul, who considered himself the foremost of sinners, said of himself, “I am what I am the grace of God.” What I am today is a product of His grace and what I will be in the future will be because of His grace.
Just as our effort and focus is certain to falter and fade at times, His grace is certain to remain sufficient at all times. Our job, like Peter’s and John’s is to depend on the one whose power and piety is the difference.
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