Credit where credit is due

The apostle Peter was the kind of guy who had no trouble finding the front of a parade. He was drum major material! But when Peter and John performed their first miracle, healing a lame beggar at the temple gate, even Peter knew better than to take credit. Peter called on the name of Jesus to perform the healing (“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”), and he credited Jesus afterward (“by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene...this man stands before you in good health”).

When the Holy Spirit empowers us to serve, do we give credit where credit is due? When God uses you to teach a Bible study or comfort a friend, or lead another person to Christ, does your drum major syndrome kick in? Do you shrug and assume an air of mock humility (“Oh, really, I uh, it was nothing...”), or do you name the name of Jesus Christ? Never allow yourself to imagine that you had anything to do with the results when you are used by God. The works He does through our lives have no basis in our limited resources. Peter and John didn’t have the stuff to make a lame man walk, and they knew it. They weren’t about to pretend that it was their doing. When the Spirit works through you and me, the miraculous things He may do are only half of His agenda. The other half is seeing Jesus Christ exalted as a result. Don’t get in front of the parade when the band begins to play. Give credit where credit is due.