Stop living like the beggar
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
How often I have walked by someone on the street with their hand out, wanting me to give them some money.
Sometimes I give them something, sometimes not. If I have some change, perhaps I will drop some of it in their paper cup.
There have been many times someone will ask for money and I will tell them “I don’t have any today, and just keep walking.”
I think this passage has more to say than just helping the beggar on the street, It says something to my heart.
Peter knew he had nothing in his pocket but was also knew he had something much more valuable in his life and he gave to this poor man out of the wealth of his life. Peter had taken stock of his own life and knew what he had to offer and his relationship with Jesus was paramount in his life - even to money, when someone asked for help it was the first thing that came to his mind.
The fact that Peter was even inclined to give when he didn’t have what the man asked for speaks to Peter’s own awareness of himself, the man and the situation. Peter’s heart was positioned to give.
When Peter offered the man Jesus, it wasn’t “let Jesus save you”, “let Jesus bring you hope, help you, befriend you” although that begging man most likely needed all of those, but Peter offered what Peter ultimately could not provide, the miracle of a crippled man made able to walk. Peter was in an instant able to look beyond the man’s immediate circumstances and in the authority of Jesus, by his name, compassionately lift the man to his feet. Peter knew that the relationship he had with Jesus was not even the most valuable thing he could give the man, but instead it was the authority and power of Jesus that Peter had access to and was able to extend to the crippled man. It was the power of Jesus that made a man to stand on his own that day, and Peter knew that ultimately that was the only thing that could lift the man above the circumstances of his life.
One thing that struck me was Peter’s awareness of what he had that was greater than what he didn’t have. Peter did not have silver or gold but he could offer the full resources of God because Jesus had given him access to His authority. So often I focus on what I do not have, my own limitations or the limitations of my circumstances and Peter was not living like that. Instead he knew what he had, the value of it and he was faithful with it. When I become focused on my limitations then I am controlled by them and like the beggar all I can think about is the money, or whatever, I don’t have that keeps me from living a fruitful life. Peter however was faithful to give what he did have and therefore experienced fruitfulness come out of his life that only Jesus could bring. He gave freely because he knew that what he had was inexhaustible.
This morning I am asking Jesus to show me and remind me of what I do have, and then to help me prioritize it from the greatest to least valuable. I want to give to others out of the wealth I have and stop complaining, in my own heart, about the limitations of what I do not have. I want to be faithful with what I have so it can bear fruit in my life and in others around me. I want to draw on the resources of God, through the authority of Jesus and I want to stop being the beggar and start living like Peter.
How often I have walked by someone on the street with their hand out, wanting me to give them some money.
Sometimes I give them something, sometimes not. If I have some change, perhaps I will drop some of it in their paper cup.
There have been many times someone will ask for money and I will tell them “I don’t have any today, and just keep walking.”
I think this passage has more to say than just helping the beggar on the street, It says something to my heart.
Peter knew he had nothing in his pocket but was also knew he had something much more valuable in his life and he gave to this poor man out of the wealth of his life. Peter had taken stock of his own life and knew what he had to offer and his relationship with Jesus was paramount in his life - even to money, when someone asked for help it was the first thing that came to his mind.
The fact that Peter was even inclined to give when he didn’t have what the man asked for speaks to Peter’s own awareness of himself, the man and the situation. Peter’s heart was positioned to give.
When Peter offered the man Jesus, it wasn’t “let Jesus save you”, “let Jesus bring you hope, help you, befriend you” although that begging man most likely needed all of those, but Peter offered what Peter ultimately could not provide, the miracle of a crippled man made able to walk. Peter was in an instant able to look beyond the man’s immediate circumstances and in the authority of Jesus, by his name, compassionately lift the man to his feet. Peter knew that the relationship he had with Jesus was not even the most valuable thing he could give the man, but instead it was the authority and power of Jesus that Peter had access to and was able to extend to the crippled man. It was the power of Jesus that made a man to stand on his own that day, and Peter knew that ultimately that was the only thing that could lift the man above the circumstances of his life.
One thing that struck me was Peter’s awareness of what he had that was greater than what he didn’t have. Peter did not have silver or gold but he could offer the full resources of God because Jesus had given him access to His authority. So often I focus on what I do not have, my own limitations or the limitations of my circumstances and Peter was not living like that. Instead he knew what he had, the value of it and he was faithful with it. When I become focused on my limitations then I am controlled by them and like the beggar all I can think about is the money, or whatever, I don’t have that keeps me from living a fruitful life. Peter however was faithful to give what he did have and therefore experienced fruitfulness come out of his life that only Jesus could bring. He gave freely because he knew that what he had was inexhaustible.
This morning I am asking Jesus to show me and remind me of what I do have, and then to help me prioritize it from the greatest to least valuable. I want to give to others out of the wealth I have and stop complaining, in my own heart, about the limitations of what I do not have. I want to be faithful with what I have so it can bear fruit in my life and in others around me. I want to draw on the resources of God, through the authority of Jesus and I want to stop being the beggar and start living like Peter.
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