Reading Plan:
Acts 14


Our Thoughts:
Did you know that when you have a conversation with someone, 55% of your message comes from your body language and facial expressions? That’s unreal to think about. That means if you aren’t speaking face to face with someone, a significant amount of the information is lost. I always pick on my sister because our family knows what she is thinking before she says it because it is written all over her face. It’s funny at times when I have to casually remind her to “fix her face!” There is real value in being able to read someone’s body language and facial expressions. We get a glimpse of this truth in Acts 14.

Paul is preaching and there is a lame man in the crowd who is hanging on every word he speaks. In verse 9, we are told that Paul looked directly at him and SAW he had the faith to be healed. Wow! That makes me ask a lot of questions. What did Paul see? What was it about this man that Paul perceived as faith? What did he display in his body language? What story did his eyes tell? We may never know how this disabled man displayed such faith that captured Paul’s attention, but we do know it stopped Paul in his tracks. In the middle of speaking to the crowd, he stopped to heal this man because of his non-verbal, visible faith. We watch the man’s faith turn into action as he immediately responds to Paul’s command. It is a beautiful picture of how incredible faith can lead to a miraculous move of God - in this case, physical healing.

We may project many things with our nonverbal cues and expressions, but nothing holds more weight than how people see our faith. More importantly, how God sees our faith. We are told in James that faith without action is dead. Too often, we stop short of turning our faith into action through immediate obedience, and as a result, we miss a miraculous move of God! If we could trust and obey as easily as this crippled man did, I believe we would catch the eyes of God as well. I’m reminded of the verse in 2 Chronicles 16:9 that says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This makes me examine my own life and ask the question, “Would my faith catch the gaze of God as He searches the earth for those committed to him?” Would yours?


More Questions:
What would people have to say about your faith if it was based on your actions alone?
What changes can you make in your daily life that would catch the gaze of God?


Prayer:
Lord, I pray that my faith in you shines in such a way that you are glorified. I pray that you would shine a light on the areas in my life where I need to trust you more. Teach me immediate obedience and what a faith-filled life truly looks like.


Author: Angie Gates