Thoughts for the Day

In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him instantly and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And the man sprang up and began to walk.

Thoughts

In Paul's first Missionary journey, he and Barnabas took the good news about Jesus to a number of cities in modern-day Turkey. However, they stir up a hornet's nest of opposition as well as support in Iconium (modern-day Konya) and threatened with stoning they flee to Lystra (now Zoldera) where they continue to spread the good news. It is here that we get this little miracle, and it's worth noticing a few things:

• Paul observes the effect of his words on the man who sits listening.
• The man would have been known by everyone as being lame from birth.
• Paul believes that the Spirit will enable him to heal the man, and just commands him to 'stand up on his feet'.
• The man springs up, there is no half-hearted getting up, or taking a small step.
• The man goes from hearing, to believing Paul's words!

The whole town is astounded, and think that Paul and Barnabas are 'gods'. Of course, inevitably, those who have chased them out of Iconium arrive and whip up local opposition, seeking to stone them. They are forced to move again to continue spreading the message about Jesus.

Today, we too need to hear the message Jesus brings and believe it can all apply to us!

Lord God,
we may not face the kind of opposition
undergone by Paul and Barnabas,
but we do face constant slights and slurs;
in the press and on television,
often caused by ignorance.
Help us to influence those around us for good,
and to pass on the news of Jesus Christ
through our words as well as our actions.
Amen.