A Spiritual Response

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

A SPIRITUAL RESPONSE

Acts 9:32-35

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34 "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

NIV

Checking on the map of Israel, we find Lydda about twelve miles to the northwest of Jerusalem with Joppa a few more miles in the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Peter will get to Joppa next, but for now Luke tells us that Peter is visiting with the saints in Lydda. It is also interesting that Luke mentions Sharon. This is not a city, but the plains of Sharon as a region, along the coastal area. Jesus is referred to as the Rose of Sharon. While Peter is visiting with the Saints in Lydda he came across a paralytic man named Aeneas. It was a natural response for Peter to heal this man in the name of Jesus. Luke does not tell us there was much conversation, that Peter felt sorry for Aeneas if Peter asked him about his faith in Jesus, or how did this crippling of his body happen. Peter simply said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you, Get up and take care of your mat”. The power of God is at work in Peter, and healing took place. Luke tells us that Aeneas got up immediately. We are not told if Aeneas felt the power of God within his body, that he could feel strength come into his muscles and bones. What we do know is he believed Peter and that he was healed by Jesus Christ, so he got up. This is the key to healing, believing we are healed, maybe without any outward evidence. We might not even feel anything within us, but we know that Jesus has not changed and that he told us that if we ask him anything, which includes healing, he would it. From what is recorded, Peter did not even ask, he just pronounces that Jesus has healed the man. Can we walk in the same manner as Peter, declaring healing in the name of Jesus Christ? It would believe that is correct, that we can declare sick people healed by Jesus Christ and they would be healed, which could include ourselves. Why couldn’t we believe that Jesus heals us just like he healed Aeneas or any of those who were healed in that bible? Is that some special formula needed? Do we have to earn this healing? Maybe we need to be on our knees when we ask. Maybe there are some special words that need to be spoken. Maybe we should repent of all our sins, whatever they might be, first. How can we be worthy enough for healing? We cannot, for Jesus Christ is the only one who is worthy, we are simply humans with flaws, but we say that we believe in Jesus, and therefore we should live as though we believe, and healing should be a natural response to our faith, as it was with Peter, and Aeneas, although it was more of a spiritual response.