Something Better than Gold: Acts 3:6
“But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” Acts 3:6 NABS95
Often, I hear messages preached from the pulpit about how Christians are supposed to be a giving group of people. That message is very much true but not just in one way. In our culture, when we think of giving, we first think of money. At my church, much like every Protestant church in the United States, we have an offering every week. The tithes go towards various ministries inside of the local church and in the global church body. These offerings are meant to be a blessing and often they are, but there is a far more important aspect of Christianity: Jesus.
In the passage in Acts 3, a lame beggar thought he was going to receive money from Peter and John. Peter called out to the beggar to look at him and John. The beggar expected to receive money from them, but instead he received something far better. The beggar received the ability to walk. Not just walk, as Luke wrote that he began to leap and praise God. What a miracle!
This beggar was at the Temple during the afternoon. This miracle was observed by many others who had just witnessed the power of God. The beggar, who was lame from birth, had been healed and now began to walk amid a familiar crowd people. They would have known he was lame from birth, but now saw that he walked and leaped praising God. The people ran up to Peter, John, and the beggar and spoke to them. Peter took this chance and offered to them something that everyone needs: Jesus. Peter delivered his second sermon and pointed these inquiring minds to the One who offers us salvation. Peter pointed them to Jesus. As the church, we are to point others to Jesus as well. It may not be a healing of a lame beggar, but it could be a coffee gesture that shows the generosity of Christ. Actions, no matter how small they appear, can have an enormous impact on a person’s life.
Often, I hear messages preached from the pulpit about how Christians are supposed to be a giving group of people. That message is very much true but not just in one way. In our culture, when we think of giving, we first think of money. At my church, much like every Protestant church in the United States, we have an offering every week. The tithes go towards various ministries inside of the local church and in the global church body. These offerings are meant to be a blessing and often they are, but there is a far more important aspect of Christianity: Jesus.
In the passage in Acts 3, a lame beggar thought he was going to receive money from Peter and John. Peter called out to the beggar to look at him and John. The beggar expected to receive money from them, but instead he received something far better. The beggar received the ability to walk. Not just walk, as Luke wrote that he began to leap and praise God. What a miracle!
This beggar was at the Temple during the afternoon. This miracle was observed by many others who had just witnessed the power of God. The beggar, who was lame from birth, had been healed and now began to walk amid a familiar crowd people. They would have known he was lame from birth, but now saw that he walked and leaped praising God. The people ran up to Peter, John, and the beggar and spoke to them. Peter took this chance and offered to them something that everyone needs: Jesus. Peter delivered his second sermon and pointed these inquiring minds to the One who offers us salvation. Peter pointed them to Jesus. As the church, we are to point others to Jesus as well. It may not be a healing of a lame beggar, but it could be a coffee gesture that shows the generosity of Christ. Actions, no matter how small they appear, can have an enormous impact on a person’s life.
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