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Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him…..These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.

[Acts 3:12-13 ; 4:2-4 NLT]

Peter had performed a miracle and healed a lame man earlier in Acts 1:1-8. This astounded the crowds which followed Peter and John. Peter then used the opportunity to address the crowds. But Peter did two remarkable things:

•  He immediately denounced the impression that the miracle was by his own power and godliness (3:12).
•  He credited the miracle to God, who brought glory to his servant Jesus by performing the miracle (3:13).

We would later read that many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children!

The questions are:

• What would have happened if Peter had silently enjoyed the attention he was getting, or took the credit for all that happened?
• Would they still have gotten the 5000?

Have you been in a situation where someone begins to thank you, or acknowledge you for something; and a thought comes to your head to give all the glory to God, but somehow you feel reluctant because you are enjoying the moment, and not willing to let go of the attention being showered on you? Well, I have. And most often when that happens, that is when blurt out, “Glory be to God,” before the adversary changes my mind! But Apostle Peter just taught me a better way; to actually state that it is not by my own power or godliness, before I point to God as the one who made it all happen. It takes the Holy Spirit working in us to totally surrender our will, and to subject that innate human craving for fame and power to the sovereign purpose of God to do this. If Peter had just nodded his head, waved his hands victoriously, or said “Glory be to God” in a cursory manner, I wonder if the number of believers would have gotten to 5000 that day. However, Peter pointed to God without any reservations; and that led to a havest of souls!

When we take the credit for what God has done, we suppress the testimony to His greatness and goodness, and rob Him of souls! 

The miracle could be as little as we had enough money to bless someone with some change, or as big as we have raised someone from the dead! Whatever it is, God uses the little sacrifices of humility and submission of will we make, to glorify His name and expand His kingdom. 

So today, when we perform any act of thoughtfulness, and we hear, “Thank you,” or “You have done so well,” we need to remember to say, “It is not by our own power”; and give all credit to God without any reservations.

God turns our humble submission of will and desires into souls, and expands His kingdom. As John the Baptist told his disciples when they came to complain about Jesus,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

*MEMORY VERSE*
"...why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is God ...who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this." (Acts 3:12-13)

*PRAYER TIP*
Father, please help me never to take Your glory, however good it feels, in Jesus' name.

*URGENT CALL*
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!

God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.

Then develop your new relationship
with God through your Quiet Time.

Then find a Bible-Believing Church
where you can Fellowship with like
minded people.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!

God richly bless you.

*EXCITING NEWS!*
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You can read this and other uplifting articles on the *Testimony Devotional Website* at:

www.testimonydevotional.org

or 

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*GRATITUDE*
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God bless you richly, and continue to pray without ceasing, and please say one for us too.