“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:-6
To read today’s portion of scripture, you can purchase The One Year Bible or find the following in your Bible:
2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23
Had Peter and John given the beggar the money he was after, he would have been happy for a day. Instead — having no money of their own to speak of — they gave him something far better and longer lasting: they gave him healing.
The early church had no money, but they were rich in the power of God. We should be jealous of that. Because we seem to have it in reverse. We have opulent churches full of well-dressed people driving brand new cars to their massive homes, but spiritual wealth seems elusive.
I heard a story about a monk in the Middle Ages who was walking with a Roman cardinal through the church, which at this time was at the height of its wealth and power. The cardinal gestured at the extravagant surroundings and said, “We no longer have to say, ‘Silver and gold I do not have.’”
The humble monk nodded, and then said, “Yes. But neither can you say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’”
What might happen to the world if we who call ourselves Christians prayed for, aimed at and sought after God’s power … instead of settling for silver and gold?
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