The professional, unable-to-walk-from-birth, beggar was healed. He had walked and jumped around because he had been commanded to do so in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:7-8). As a large crowd gathered in the temple courtyard, wanting to know why the once-lame man was walking, he made sure he was close to Peter and John. They could explain. And indeed that is just what God wanted to happen.

First of all, the apostles discounted any suggestion that their holiness or power had achieved the miracle. No, the man had faith in Jesus. He had trusted that Jesus had the power to enable him to obey the command to walk: he was healed in Jesus' Name. Therefore, the episode was not really about the welfare of the man (although he certainly benefitted wonderfully); it was about Jesus, His ongoing life and power. God, the God they claimed to worship, had deliberately chosen that everybody should see that Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36).

By contrast, Peter reminded the crowd that they had demanded that Jesus should die (Matthew 27:11-26). Although they said that they honoured God, they had demanded that God the Son should be killed; preferring that a murdering criminal should be set free. To kill the 'Author of life' is a big accusation. And to see that God had raised Him from the dead, and that the power of the ascended Jesus was undiminished, was a huge humiliation for the crowd. God was challenging them to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:37-38).

There are times when God arranges some circumstance in order to honour and glorify the Name of Jesus. However good or bad it may appear to be, the focus is not to be on us, our participation or ministry, but on Jesus Christ. It is God's way of announcing that the Saviour of the world is still in command, all powerful and utterly trustworthy. When you are privileged to be involved with God's plan in this way, be ready to give all the glory to Jesus (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Peter 3:15). That is the purpose of what He is doing … not to enlarge your reputation, but His … not to have people flocking around you, but to bring them to repentance and faith. You may be amazed by what the Lord has done: He has chosen to bless you but, when you give Him all the praise, He will draw sinners to Himself (Psalm 96:2).