The lame man leaps (2) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

(The lame man), seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have”.
Acts 3:3–6

The lame man leaps (2)
Peter and John enter the temple area through the Beautiful Gate. There sits a lame man, a beggar. When he sees them, he asks for alms, a donation, as he does countless times every day. But this time everything is different.

Peter and John stop, look steadfastly at the beggar and address him, demanding his unhindered, undivided attention. And expecting a generous gift, he is full of excitement and hope, and gets an answer he doesn’t expect. Peter says, “Silver and gold I do not have”! How disappointing this explanation is for the beggar!

“Look at us,” is Peter’s invitation. He desires eye contact and then he corrects the man’s thoughts and expectations: “Silver and gold I do not have”. Peter has to make room for a very different answer, for something much greater, for something the lame man would never have expected: God was going to perform a miracle.

Today, too, God speaks and acts. And He desires our full attention, so He also tells us, “But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God” (1 Samuel 9:27).

Peter possessed “nothing”, as did his Lord and Master Jesus when He lived here on earth – and yet he was able to make “many rich”. He wants to do the same here – the lame man will yet experience it himself (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:10).

(to be continued tomorrow)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 16:14-23 · Psalms 102:19-29