Friday, April 5, 2013

Day Five: A healing at the gates of the Temple


Peter is again front and center in today's story.  Peter and John arriving at the temple for prayer are confronted by a crippled man  who has been laid at the gate to beg  for alms.  Peter, when confronted by the man, in a moment of great clarity says.  "I have no silver or gold, but what I do have (the spirit of God) I give you; in the name of  Jesus Christ, stand up and walk."  Of course, we know the rest of the story the man is healed and is able to walk. Peter has brought not silver or gold, but the healing presence of God's spirit into this man's life. Peter uses this occasion to preach the story of Christ's resurrection and invites those around him to repent.

 I was struck this morning by what Peter says repentance bring.  In vs 19&20 Peter says "Repent... so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..."   Wow, to think of repentance bringing the refreshing Spirit of God into our lives.What a gift and who wouldn't want that?

1 comment:

  1. Peter was dutifully going into the temple to pray at the appointed time of 3:00. (Wouldn't it be great if I would remember to pray at times appointed throughout the day?) There was a crippled man at the temple gate expecting alms. Peter - in the name of Jesus - told the man to stand and walk, and he did! Awesome healing! Anything is possible through Jesus; name. And the healed man even said "Thank You."

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