By faith in his name.

Acts 3:12-16, 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? 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. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 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.

We want to come up with some formula for making things happen, just as the alchemists sought some way to turn lead into gold. Peter shows this amazing healing to be a walk of faith, not of sight, and gives all glory to the Father. How amazing, given the treatment of his only begotten Son Jesus that the Father is still pleased to move, to work and to call them to life even though they are the very people who cried out “crucify him!” And we have access now to him by his grace toward us in Jesus, by faith that he has given us to do those good works that he gives us today!

Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and boldness to act in your name to accomplish what you want to do through us today, Lord!

ESV Lectionary