January 29-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 3:1-6, One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 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.”
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, as we saw last week, your followers are faithful in gathering together for the practice of prayer. Just as this man was placed before the gate every day, so are those who are before us each day, even on our way to worship, small group, Bible Study, or a meeting who are in some kind of need. Give us the willingness to slow down and look at them. Help us to discern what they really need for what they might be asking may not be what they most need or even what we have to offer. Give us the courage to give them what we have in Jesus’ name. Jesus, we always have something to give in Your name! Amen.”
January 30-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:1, One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Observe what it is saying.
The first story we have after the description of the early church’s dynamic devotion to the practices of faith is Peter and John practicing the faith. They were continuing to go to the temple at the time of prayer each day. There’s something vitally essential about doing the daily and weekly routines that nourish our souls and develop our character. We discover that Jesus often prayed wherever He was and went to the Temple when He was in Jerusalem. The apostles continued in that same pattern. Much of our spiritual development is the discipline of showing up so we can meet with God on our own and with the family of believers.
Relate it to your life.
If I want to enjoy all the benefits of the Lord, then I will make it a regular practice to be with Him.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I don’t want to miss out on anything You have for me. Help me to build the routines and rhythms in my life where I passionately enjoy meeting with You. Amen.”
January 31-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:2, Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
Observe what it is saying.
This lame man survived because his friends carried him to the gate and because of those who gave their gifts to support him. The gate that is Beautiful is the Eastern gate that was made of Corinthian Bronze and brilliantly reflected the sun like no other. It was the main entrance into the Temple courts. Every day his friends carried him. Every day he begged for his sustenance. Every day he had to rely on the charity of others. What a miserable life he lived, yet he was still alive. In the midst of the misery, there was God’s provision through the people of God. We may think we’re in ugly circumstances, but we can still give thanks for God’s gifts in the midst of it all.
Relate it to your life.
As difficult as it might be, I always have reason to give thanks to God in all circumstances.
Do something.
“Jesus, I thank You that in the darkest times, I have Your grace and gifts to sustain me. Amen.”
February 1-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:3-4, When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
Observe what it is saying.
He did what he did every day every time someone passed by. It was all he knew to do. It was what he thought he needed the most. He’s not much different than the rest of us. We think what me most need is more money, and life will become so much better. He was at the mercy of all who came by. Peter and John stopped and looked at him. They didn’t hurriedly throw a dollar in his cloak and rush on. They valued him by stopping and looking. His downward gaze revealed the shame and rejection he felt so deeply. Peter and John not only valued him by stopping, they wanted to elevate him by asking him to look up at them. They did so much for him before they did so much more for him.
Relate it to your life.
I cannot rush by the people along my path but must see their value and lift them up.
Do something.
“Jesus, slow me down so I can see what You see and do what You do. Amen.”
February 2-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:5, So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Observe what it is saying.
The man responded to Peter and John’s request to look at them. How many times do we miss out because we don’t respond to the simple request of others? Not only did he give them his attention, but he was expecting to get something. Evidently, he had experienced generous people before who gave so he believed this was another case where he would receive a donation to help him survive in life. This man didn’t have much, but, at least, he lived expectantly, or another way to put it, he lived by faith. It’s all he had. If we think about it, it’s all we really have because everything else in life is temporary and out of our control.
Relate it to your life.
I live by faith, expecting to receive what the Lord has for me.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me such faith to live expectantly as I trust in Your promises. Amen.”
February 3-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:6, 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.”
Observe what it is saying.
After getting the lame man’s attention, along with his expectant faith of receiving something, Peter told him what they had to give wasn’t money as normally given. Such an offering was what would help him survive. However, Peter had a much better gift that would, from that point on, help him to thrive in life. He went to the root of the problem and gave him what was most needed- his freedom, his dignity, his ability to work to meet his own needs. The man received so much more than he’d ever dreamed he would. From the giver’s perspective, we give what we have to give. It may not be money. It may be a word of encouragement, a prayer, an offer to help, etc. On the receiver’s end, we need to be prepared to receive something different from what we think we might need but what we most need.
Relate it to your life.
The Lord provides what I most need to thrive, not what I think I need to survive.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, give me such faith to receive what I most need from You. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 3:1-6, One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 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.”
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, as we saw last week, your followers are faithful in gathering together for the practice of prayer. Just as this man was placed before the gate every day, so are those who are before us each day, even on our way to worship, small group, Bible Study, or a meeting who are in some kind of need. Give us the willingness to slow down and look at them. Help us to discern what they really need for what they might be asking may not be what they most need or even what we have to offer. Give us the courage to give them what we have in Jesus’ name. Jesus, we always have something to give in Your name! Amen.”
January 30-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:1, One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Observe what it is saying.
The first story we have after the description of the early church’s dynamic devotion to the practices of faith is Peter and John practicing the faith. They were continuing to go to the temple at the time of prayer each day. There’s something vitally essential about doing the daily and weekly routines that nourish our souls and develop our character. We discover that Jesus often prayed wherever He was and went to the Temple when He was in Jerusalem. The apostles continued in that same pattern. Much of our spiritual development is the discipline of showing up so we can meet with God on our own and with the family of believers.
Relate it to your life.
If I want to enjoy all the benefits of the Lord, then I will make it a regular practice to be with Him.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I don’t want to miss out on anything You have for me. Help me to build the routines and rhythms in my life where I passionately enjoy meeting with You. Amen.”
January 31-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:2, Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
Observe what it is saying.
This lame man survived because his friends carried him to the gate and because of those who gave their gifts to support him. The gate that is Beautiful is the Eastern gate that was made of Corinthian Bronze and brilliantly reflected the sun like no other. It was the main entrance into the Temple courts. Every day his friends carried him. Every day he begged for his sustenance. Every day he had to rely on the charity of others. What a miserable life he lived, yet he was still alive. In the midst of the misery, there was God’s provision through the people of God. We may think we’re in ugly circumstances, but we can still give thanks for God’s gifts in the midst of it all.
Relate it to your life.
As difficult as it might be, I always have reason to give thanks to God in all circumstances.
Do something.
“Jesus, I thank You that in the darkest times, I have Your grace and gifts to sustain me. Amen.”
February 1-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:3-4, When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
Observe what it is saying.
He did what he did every day every time someone passed by. It was all he knew to do. It was what he thought he needed the most. He’s not much different than the rest of us. We think what me most need is more money, and life will become so much better. He was at the mercy of all who came by. Peter and John stopped and looked at him. They didn’t hurriedly throw a dollar in his cloak and rush on. They valued him by stopping and looking. His downward gaze revealed the shame and rejection he felt so deeply. Peter and John not only valued him by stopping, they wanted to elevate him by asking him to look up at them. They did so much for him before they did so much more for him.
Relate it to your life.
I cannot rush by the people along my path but must see their value and lift them up.
Do something.
“Jesus, slow me down so I can see what You see and do what You do. Amen.”
February 2-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:5, So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Observe what it is saying.
The man responded to Peter and John’s request to look at them. How many times do we miss out because we don’t respond to the simple request of others? Not only did he give them his attention, but he was expecting to get something. Evidently, he had experienced generous people before who gave so he believed this was another case where he would receive a donation to help him survive in life. This man didn’t have much, but, at least, he lived expectantly, or another way to put it, he lived by faith. It’s all he had. If we think about it, it’s all we really have because everything else in life is temporary and out of our control.
Relate it to your life.
I live by faith, expecting to receive what the Lord has for me.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me such faith to live expectantly as I trust in Your promises. Amen.”
February 3-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 3:6, 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.”
Observe what it is saying.
After getting the lame man’s attention, along with his expectant faith of receiving something, Peter told him what they had to give wasn’t money as normally given. Such an offering was what would help him survive. However, Peter had a much better gift that would, from that point on, help him to thrive in life. He went to the root of the problem and gave him what was most needed- his freedom, his dignity, his ability to work to meet his own needs. The man received so much more than he’d ever dreamed he would. From the giver’s perspective, we give what we have to give. It may not be money. It may be a word of encouragement, a prayer, an offer to help, etc. On the receiver’s end, we need to be prepared to receive something different from what we think we might need but what we most need.
Relate it to your life.
The Lord provides what I most need to thrive, not what I think I need to survive.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, give me such faith to receive what I most need from You. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals