Spring Up

He was busted for staring.

A glow shone from the man's emerald colored eyes as he stared back at Paul. He didn't glare at Paul for staring. He just stared back.

What was that?

A smile tugged at Paul's mouth. That's what it was. It was faith.

Faith just radiated from this man from the inside to the outside, as bright and blinding as the sun on a clear day. He had listened to Paul intently the entire time he spoke - and it was a long time! Anyone could look at him and see the truth that had slapped Paul in the face.

This man had the faith to be made well. To be healed. To be saved.

It was time to use it.

Paul's grin grew to a full blown smile as he stood up and spoke in a boisterous voice, "Stand upright on your feet."

The man didn't even hesitate. With eyes that never left Paul's face, he put his faith into action.

And he stood up.

Based on Acts 14:8-10

"Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and began walking." Acts 14:8-10

I kinda love this. Paul stared this dude down. He studied his eyes and searched his face and saw that this crippled man, who could understandably be bitter and unbelieving, had faith. Not just any faith, but faith to be saved (as my footnote said) and the faith to be made well.

This poor man who had been crippled from birth had faith. So when Paul told him to get up, he didn't debate it. He sprang up. Do you know any guys that spring up? Guys don't spring up unless they are so excited and into whatever is happening that they don't care about how ridiculous they look. This guy sprang up because he had so much faith.

Do we have that kind of faith? The faith to spring up despite being pushed down our whole life? The faith that we don't question it, we just jump? The faith that others can see on our face despite our visible brokenness? Do we have that faith?

Why is it that a man who couldn't walk his whole life has more faith then people who have been saved their whole lives?

Whatever your story is, you can be like that man. You can have that kind of faith. Spring up with your faith instead of always evaluating, worrying, wondering, and stopping.

V. Joy Palmer