GETTING STARTED
I love watching good magicians. Especially old card and coin tricks that capitalize on misdirection—the attention of the onlookers diverted at key times. The audience can be so enamored by one small aspect of the illusion that they miss the greater reality going on around them. This also happens to us regarding the activity of God in our world and in our lives.
- Can you remember a time when your attention was so focused on something trivial that you missed the bigger picture of what was really going on? What did you miss?
READ THE WORD: ACTS 3:11-16 (ESV)
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- Make a list of the actions Peter accused the people of doing to Jesus in verses 13-15. Do you think such forceful and accusatory words were necessary? Why or why not?
- Peter began his address with the question, “Why do you wonder at this?” Can you recall a time when the presence or power of God surprised you? Describe what happened.
- Peter followed his first question with a second question that redirected the people’s attention. Why is this redirection so important? How might your attention need to be refocused in the same way?
- Summarize verse 16 in your own words. How might the same be said of you?
RESPOND TO GOD
As sinful humans, we’re ignorant of just how blind and backward we are. Without even realizing it, we naturally push away the wisdom and goodness we need while we embrace what is destructive to us. Like the people in the passage, we “deny the Righteous One and ask for a murderer.” Proverbs 14:12 has our number: “There is a way that SEEMS RIGHT to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” This is why our thinking needs reshaping (repentance), and our attention needs to be redirected.
- Confess to the Lord any way that you may be denying (resisting) him (The Holy and Righteous One).
- Ask the Holy Spirit to redirect your attention away from people and things (even good people and good things) toward him and him alone.
