Today's reading: Acts 17-20
But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." Acts 20:10 NRSV
I have had a few folks fall asleep in my sermons but I have never had someone fall out of his sleep to his death. The interesting thing is that this does not make Paul stop speaking! He continues until the sun comes up.
Bringing the dead to life is one of those signs of God's power and presence. Usually it meant that the person through whom the healing occurred was God's own prophet. So, Paul was not just another long-winded preacher but a person of God. Paul was someone people should listened to when he spoke.
Interestingly, Paul does not make a big deal out of this miracle. He does not go around saying, "Look what God has done through me!" Instead, it is no big deal - the boy still had life left in him.
Is there someone you know who seems to be dead? Do you want God to send a prophet to that person today so that this someone you know may be risen from the dead? Do you think there is life still in that person?
Let's pray for them now: God, you know who is on our minds, the person we know that seems to be dead. But you are the God of the Resurrection! We pray for a prophet to be sent in their midst. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
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