Making Amends Acts 9:32-35
"As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 'Aeneas,' Peter said to him, 'Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.' Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."
Thoughts for Today:I think it is an interesting choice of words that Peter spoke following the healing of Aeneas, "....take care of your mat". Why take care of the mat? Why pay any attention to it at all? It was useless and pointless; after all he was now healed. What need did he have for a mat? Why not throw it away, ignore it and begin his new life without the burden of that old mat?
I think there are two points in the purpose of the mat. The first is revealed in verse 35, "All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord." In other words, without the mat people can forget who you were before the Lord healed you -- the mat becomes evidence of your healing. All too often we accept the Lord's healing then over time forget the pain. The mat helps us to remember and continue to be a witness.
The second is a little more subtle, "take care of your mat" -- or in the King James Version: "make thy bed" -- meaning clean up the problems you caused or created before you were healed (while you were still sick).
Questions to Ponder: Has the Lord healed (or is healing) you from a spirit of greed, anger, selfishness, intemperance, pride, etc? Have you experienced joy as a result of the freedom from bondage to sin (the mat)? What about the people who were affected by your sin? Have you made your bed, have you cleaned up after yourself, have you taken care of your mat? Have you made amends to the people who were affected the most?
"As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 'Aeneas,' Peter said to him, 'Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.' Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."
Thoughts for Today:I think it is an interesting choice of words that Peter spoke following the healing of Aeneas, "....take care of your mat". Why take care of the mat? Why pay any attention to it at all? It was useless and pointless; after all he was now healed. What need did he have for a mat? Why not throw it away, ignore it and begin his new life without the burden of that old mat?
I think there are two points in the purpose of the mat. The first is revealed in verse 35, "All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord." In other words, without the mat people can forget who you were before the Lord healed you -- the mat becomes evidence of your healing. All too often we accept the Lord's healing then over time forget the pain. The mat helps us to remember and continue to be a witness.
The second is a little more subtle, "take care of your mat" -- or in the King James Version: "make thy bed" -- meaning clean up the problems you caused or created before you were healed (while you were still sick).
Questions to Ponder: Has the Lord healed (or is healing) you from a spirit of greed, anger, selfishness, intemperance, pride, etc? Have you experienced joy as a result of the freedom from bondage to sin (the mat)? What about the people who were affected by your sin? Have you made your bed, have you cleaned up after yourself, have you taken care of your mat? Have you made amends to the people who were affected the most?
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