GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 7

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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THE TRACE OF HIS SHADOW

(Read Acts 3:1-10;  5:1-11;  8:14-24;   ad 10:44-48)

THE SHADOW OF A HEALING TOUCH (cont’d)

F.B. Meyer says that there are four different kinds of people in the world: 

1. There are those who have nothing to give – they have no silver or gold, no blessing, no encouragement, no helpfulness.  They go through life without helping anyone, but simply withdraw into their own small world. 

2. There are those who have silver and gold but are not mighty in spirit – these people generally keep the silver and gold for themselves and do not give it.  These are the paupers of the universe.

3.There are those who, like Peter, have no silver or gold but are filled with faith, vision, encouragement, and healing touch.  These are rich to God.

4. There are those who give silver and gold and spiritual riches besides.  These are also rich toward God.

Thomas Aquinas, it is said, went to visit the pope in Rome.  When they saw the treasures of the Vatican, the pontiff remarked, “We cannot say as did the first pope, “Silver and gold have I none.” To which Aquinas replied, “Neither can you say, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk!”

Wealth is not the standard of value. The poverty of Christ is a powerful reminder that one does not have to be rich in this world’s goods in order to be rich toward God.  Christ taught that it was hard, if not impossible, for the rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ does not expect us to give what we do not have.  Most of us do not have the gift of healing, but we do have something equally precious, and even more important.  We can give the gift of prayer, the gift of a listening ear, the gift of hospitality, the gift of compassion.   More important, we can offer to others the gift of eternal life.

More significant than this man’s physical health was the fact that he almost certainly came to faith in Christ.  The infusion of physical life was only a drop in the ocean in comparison to the eternal life he received through faith.  He joyfully entered into the temple area, from which his congenital deformity had always excluded him.  When the people who knew him saw what had happened, God was glorified.

What did Peter himself make of this startling event?  He consciously deflected any praise by reminding the people that this miracle came not because of his own piety but because of the power of Christ. “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  (Acts 3:16).

As I look at my life, I see that I am the product of many other people’s gifts.  My parents who nurtured me and prayed for me, my friends who believed in me, and those people who gave me the opportunity to serve.  Throughout my life I have been the happy recipient of the faithful influences of hundreds of people.  Freely I have received, now it is my responsibility to freely give!

Peter’s shadow transformed that paralyze man.  Our shadow can help men and women come to the Savior, who can bring them into an eternal abode,  As one person said, “If I can handle eternity, I should be able to handle today!”

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Luke 10:42

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

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1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and who are my people,

That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?

For all things come from You,

And of Your own we have given You.

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2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

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PROVERBS 11:25

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

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PROVERBS 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

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Matthew 25:40

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

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Galatians 6:2 & 6:9

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ……. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

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James 2:15-16

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

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