HISTORY AND HUMILITY
Opening Prayer
Loving Savior, use my Bible reading today to show me more of who you are and where you are calling me to be more like you.
Read ACTS 3:11–26
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’[a]
24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’[b] 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Briefly sketch your immediate family tree, up to two generations behind and in front (as you are able). Next to each name, note a defining characteristic. What family traits do you see?Seizing a second moment of astonished curiosity, Peter addressed the crowd that converged on the scene of healing. Tracing through his confident claims and bold explanations, we find a couple of themes no less surprising to his hearers than the miracle they had just witnessed. Tucked away among the messianic terms he ascribed to Jesus was the title ‘servant’ (v. 13)—a discreet reference to four songs in Isaiah that detailed the suffering that God’s chosen servant would undergo. Despite these prophecies, accepting a humble hero and a suffering servant as their Savior was difficult— and still can be today—especially as he invites us to imitate his ways.
The legacy we walk in is one of beautiful humility. It is also one of blessing for all humanity. In speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v. 13), Peter appealed to the Jews’ heritage, pointing them both to their long history and to the promised inheritance they looked for. Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise, their long-awaited blessing who, through them, would bring refreshment to all peoples on earth (v. 25). An inheritance of stunning humility; a history of incredible blessing: this is the legacy we continue to live in and from.
Apply
As you consider your thoughts and actions, are there areas where God is asking you for more of a servant’s heart?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, please increase your humility in me so that I might continue to bless those around me in the ways that you did.
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