When Peter saw [the crowd gathering], he said to them, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? …  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus” (Acts 3:12-13).

Living supernaturally begins with living normally.

This week’s passage (Acts 3:1-20) in our Living Supernaturally series falls nicely into two “scenes” or “acts.”  The first (verses 1-10) begins with Jesus-followers Peter and John doing something normal, customary, even ordinary: going to the Temple at one of the normal times for prayer.  At the same time, a lame man is doing what he does every day: he is carried to the Temple precincts in order to earn his daily bread – by begging.

In the midst of all this normality, something wonderful breaks in.  As the man calls out for spare change, Peter and John notice and engage the man.  These two “senior leaders” of the tiny Jesus movement have no spare change to offer, but they offer to the man what they have: the healing power of the Name of Jesus the Messiah.

Notice how “normal life” moved into a whole new key for Peter and John and this man: they were going about their normal business; then they noticed the man and engaged with him; then they offered him what they had.  Peter reached out, grabbed the man’s hand and helped him to his feet; at the same instant, the man’s feet and ankles became strong (verses 6-7), and he leaped to his feet and began walking … normally.  Well, with some additional joyful leaping thrown in!

Here’s where the Scene II (verses 11-26) begins. Naturally, a crowd comes running: what’s going on, what happened?   And here we see another vital aspect of living supernaturally: explaining to people the meaning of what just happened.  The same Spirit that empowered Peter and John to heal now empowers them to explain to the crowd, in normal and familiar language, the meaning of what happened.

It’s that explaining that gets Peter and John into hot water with the religious authorities (see chapter 4).

Peter and John didn’t have any money or other sources of social status and power; they didn’t have “proper credentials” or the right “position” to do what they did; they weren’t looking to do something extraordinary that particular afternoon, they were just normally going to the normal time for prayer –

-- all the while being attentive, receptive and responsive to whatever the Spirit might throw into the normal run of things.

Something wonderful happened!  And they got the opportunity to explain what it meant, not only for the man who was healed, but for everyone who came running.

God will not always act so dramatically through us – they’re called “miracles” for good reason -- but God will act!  And when God chooses to act through you towards a normal but needy neighbor, be ready to do whatever God tells you to do – and also be ready to explain it just a bit to anyone who’s interested in knowing.

Christ-follower, you have a lot to offer!  Not because you’re rich, famous or powerful, but because Christ’s Spirit is in you and working through you.  As you head into this normal day and week, how could you practice being just a bit more attentive … receptive … and responsive to the Spirit’s working through you – and then “explaining” through you, too?