What Is Truly Needed?
Good Morning Friends,
As you read today’s devotional please remember the scripture reading in your mind’s eye and see the power of a poor lame beggar receiving healing. He sits at a gateway waiting expectantly for something incredibly beautiful to enter into his life. And when at last it is received, it prompts him to jump for joy. Everyone becomes filled with wonder. Those touched witness to others. Perhaps such a beggar is waiting for you. But first reflect on your faith and on What Is Truly Needed?
Scripture: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3: 1-10 (NRSV)
In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:8-18 (NRSV)
Message: There is a parallel in the two halves of Acts reflected in today’s scripture selection. The first selection tells of the Gospel being preached to the Jews near the Temple in Jerusalem and the second tells of the ministry to the Jews and Gentiles at the City Gate in Lystra. Also in the Book of Acts though not in today’s scripture it tells of Peter and Paul being jailed and having miraculous releases. So let’s explore what is comparable and what contrasts. In today’s first scripture we delve a little deeper and see Peter heal a lame man which is immediately followed by Peter’s second sermon. In today’s second scripture coming from the second half of the book of Acts we see Paul heal a lame man and give a sermon as well. Both show that the inheritance of the mission and authority of Jesus has passed to the apostles. For Peter the Messianic Church is growing with a focus on the Jews as more and more are baptized. The focus is on a kingdom on the earth subject to the laws given to the Hebrews. For Paul the church as the Body of Christ is growing as more and more Gentiles join the Holy movement with a focus on a kingdom in heaven and of God’s grace. In both passages we see that God’s power flows where the Spirit is present, where there is expectancy, where His authority is recognized, where God alone will receive the glory. Here faith is necessary for a miracle to be worked and at the same time a wondrous way of awakening faith. Friends, I think that both Peter and Paul in their own way knew what was coming for Israel. And that is why God placed in them two different assignments to both be connected through acts of love. Friends, God has so much more to give you when you serve at the corner of Grace and the Great Commission. To Peter it was prophecy and to Paul the great mystery of it all. But in the reading know despite the differences between Peter and Paul they both help us to learn to love people enough to notice their pain and love God enough to want to bring people to His love.
Pray with thanks for
God’s favor that we even exist. Pray with thanks for the provision of the Earth’s resources and for individuals brought into our lives that meet our needs. Pray we realize that there is a need for God’s promises to be fulfilled and that sometimes we can be part of the provision. Pray we Gentiles therefor make the Jews jealous because of the grace of Christ in our lives. Pray that the way scripture enlightens us to the truth that helps us understand that God has a need for both the Jew and the Gentile in the Divine plan of provision. Pray
therefor for all those in pain and all those that respond with Christian love when they see it. Pray we have more faith in ourselves and in Christ to work through us. Pray we realize that God is in the business of providing what is needed and sometimes miraculously. Pray we believe that God will supply all our needs according to the riches in the glory of Christ Jesus. Pray that we realize that our needs will never exhaust God’s supply for what we truly require. Pray we desire God. Pray we jump up with joy when we experience Heaven coming to Earth.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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