Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn’t get there by himself.” The concept is if something doesn’t have the power within itself to accomplish a certain thing, then you know that it did not do it. The disciples understood this concept.
Acts 3:12 KJV And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
You see they understood that they had no power within themselves to do this miracle. When asked this was their response.
Act 3:16 ISV It is his name—that is, by faith in his name—that has healed this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
Jesus is the one who performs the miracles. You see they understood this from the get go, because they were fishermen. They realized that they weren’t anything special as far as being educated or powerful men. They were plain men. The rulers even said in Act 4:13 KJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Where did their boldness come from? The fact that they knew they were not capable of doing anything by themselves. They knew they couldn’t heal anybody.
The disciples understood what Jesus said in John 15:5 KJV I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
You see we have to remember if God puts us in a position to do any type of work for Him, that it is He that accomplishes the work. We can’t take credit for it. Oftentimes He will use the unqualified so that He gets more glory. You see though that’s the point is to bring glory to Jesus, to point people to Him. I understand that we will be recognized by people, but we must stay humble knowing that without Him, we are nothing. It is simply put that when people look at what we’ve done they should give God praise and lift Him up. As John said in John 3:30 KJV He must increase, but I must decrease.
Luke 17:10 BBE In the same way, when you have done all the things which are given you to do, say, There is no profit in us, for we have only done what we were ordered to do.
Isa 26:12 ISV LORD, you will decide peace for us, for you have indeed accomplished all our achievements for us.
Leave a Reply