Read
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do 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. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
(Acts 3: 1-10)
Think
Whenever I read this passage, I’m reminded of something I heard many years ago – that Peter and John don’t get to say ‘stand and walk’ if they haven’t first given up their silver and gold.
That’s not meant to be an absolute statement – but there’s a principle throughout the Bible of compassion for the poor, and when Jesus tells us to have compassion on those who have less than us, he makes a claim on all that we have. You can get excited about the thought of praying for someone and their legs being restored, but find the idea of giving money much less thrilling – yet in God’s kingdom they’re part of the same thing.
The reason Peter and John aren’t flush with cash isn’t that they happened to leave their wallets at home that day – when they followed Jesus they left everything behind. They have very little, in part because they didn’t to begin with, and in part because their hearts and lives have been changed by Jesus to follow a new set of priorities, including radical generosity towards others.
It’s that same generosity of spirit that means they notice this disabled man – their default position is compassion and generosity. If they had money to give, they would give some – and only then might they have gone on to pray for him. Since they have no money, they’ll give what they do have – the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through them to see God’s kingdom come, forgiving sinners and healing the broken.
How does their example make you feel? Why not ask God to show you if there are any areas of your life that haven’t been changed by the gospel call to live generously.
Pray
Father God, thank you for that you haven’t been stingy with us – you’ve given us everything, not even holding back your only son. Thank you that by your astonishing generosity we inherit eternal life with you, even becoming sons and daughters in your royal family.
Help us to see more clearly how much we’ve been given – and in turn would you change us from the heart to be people who live generously. Whether that’s with our time, money, homes, clothes, food, skills – challenge us to follow you with a whole heart, holding nothing back, for everything we have is a gift from you, and all that we have is truly yours.
Amen
