Thursday, August 13, 2026
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).
If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?
Paul’s first miracle recorded in Scripture is Acts 13:6-12: “And when they had gone through the isle [Cyprus] unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” A Gentile wishes to hear Paul and believe his message, but a satanic and unbelieving Jew prevents it. Here is Paul’s ministry summarized—Israel is blind and without faith, but Gentiles believe on Jesus Christ.
“Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their [Barnabas and Paul’s] hands…. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:3,8-10). This is God’s ministry through Paul amongst the Gentiles, people spiritually disabled (see Gentiles’ pitiful condition in Acts 14:11-18) but Israel’s miracles leading to their restoration and wellbeing (symbolized by physical healing)….
333 Words of Grace 