The Look of Faith

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE LOOK OF FAITH

Acts 14:8-10

8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

NIV

What does faith to be healed look like? This lame man, who had never walked, who had no idea how to walk because he had been lame from birth. In normal circumstances we must teach our young infants how to walk, they must learn to balance themselves. This man had never learned how to walk, let alone stand up, holding on to something, like most infants begin. Yet, as Paul was speaking, talking about Jesus, what we do not know, is exactly what Paul was saying. Did Paul simply speak of Jesus, crucified, buried, resurrection, and ascended, or did he speak about all the miracles that Jesus did as well? What was it that Paul said that caused this lame man to look like he had faith to be healed unless Paul was talking about how Jesus healed all who came to him? Nevertheless, we still want to know what that kind of faith looks like. Is there a visible clue in the eyes? Does hope have a special look? Maybe this lame man had a glow about him, a smile had crept onto his face, and his eyes began to sparkle to a point that Paul could see this man had the faith to be healed. Paul was bold, but also filled with the Spirit, and under the influence of the divine, he called out to this man, “Stand up on your feet”, and at once the man did. The fact is that he jumped up, which is quite different than how an infant learns to walk. He leaped up; he sprang up to his feet, is a more wooden translation. Within a matter of seconds, maybe even in a nanosecond, this lame man was healed completely. What we know is that Jesus heals, we have the word of God to prove that Jesus heals. God has said that he is the Lord who heals us. So then, the question is why are so many believers not healed? Because we know God does not change, and that he offers to heal all who ask, somehow something has changed if healing is not happening. Maybe we are just not seeing any visible signs of faith. On a personal note, maybe I do not have that kind of faith, although, in the past, I have been healed on several occasions. Has the look on my face changed, or has the condition of my heart? Do we not have that smile, that sparkle, that revelation that Jesus can heal us? Faith plays an important part in receiving healing from Jesus. He is willing to heal, all we must do is believe he will heal us. Faith and that faith is not something we can conjure up, as faith is a gift from God. However, he gives it liberally and does not hold faith back from anyone as he does not show favoritism. God has poured faith out upon us, however, we first must accept that gift of faith, that then we must use it, or allow faith to influence our hearts and minds. Then we will see that look, that look of faith in our face and within our eyes, and simply believe Jesus heals. If we look in the mirror, will we see that look of faith?