“Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “LOOK AT US!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 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.” (Acts 3:4-6) [This was during the hour of prayer, one of the hours of public worship appointed and observed among the Jews. Time and place are two of the necessary conditions for every action to take place. We must be ready and willing to be used of God! Here was a poor lame beggar at the temple gate. He was a born a cripple, lame from his mother’s womb, looking (begging) for money so when Peter said βLook at usβ He looked up expecting a good donation! Peter said to him:] “Silver or gold I do not have, but WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) [What did Peter have? FAITH! Peter believed that this man would be healed and he did something about it!] “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17) [What is the life of a Christian but a life of believing accompanied by a life of prayer? This indicates a sense of our dependency upon our Abba Father; an entire dedication of ourselves to him, and a trusting anticipation for our all from Him!] “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) [Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the article of our hope are also the article of our faith! It is the firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives our soul a kind of ownership and a current realization that with God nothing is impossible!!] “β¦without faith IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, because anyone who comes to him MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS and that HE REWARDS those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) [God is a Being of infinite perfections, existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Observe, the practical belief of the existence of God, as revealed in the word should cause us to be completely obedient to Him; but, because of the fall we lost our intimate communion with God; we lost the divine light, life, love, likeness, and our daily walks of communication with our Abba Father. Because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we can have as much of these blessings returned to us that we are willing to earnestly seek!] “These were all [in Hebrews 11] commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since GOD HAD PLANNED SOMETHING BETTER FOR US so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39-40)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that GOD HAS PLANNED SOMETHING BETTER FOR US!
-Bill Stockham