Money can’t buy you love

Slices

Prepare

Think of the times when your presence has been noticed: feelings of being seen by others and respected, of trust and belonging. Thank God for these occasions. Pray: ‘Lord, help me make others feel special too.’

Bible passage

Acts 3:1–10

Peter heals a lame beggar

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. 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. 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!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

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.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

wordlive

Explore

I was once a part-time hospital chaplain, visiting the cottage hospital once a week and making my way around all the wards. On one occasion, a lady asked me to pray for her as she had suffered a nasty fall. It was a hurried prayer as I was busy. Some months later, there came a series of loud knocks on the church office door. There she stood, beaming, saying that she had been healed and could walk freely, something she had been unable to do for years. 

Peter and John’s plans have been disturbed here. As Jewish believers, it was their practice to take part in Temple prayers, three times a day. This story highlights the profound changes that have taken place since the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon the new community of faith, inspired Peter’s sermon and stimulated an extraordinary response in his listeners. The Spirit’s presence is now evident in the healing of this disabled man. The Spirit is still everywhere.  

Author
Gethin Russell-Jones

Respond

Pray: ‘God, forgive me that I often live as a self-sustaining Christian. I get by on my good words and deeds. Open my eyes to your Spirit’s power, presence and availability in all times and places.’ 
 

Bible in a year

Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 10,11; 1 Corinthians 13

Pray for Scripture Union

May is the birthday-month for two of the six language versions of Guardians of Ancora. Please pray for all the children playing the game but especially for those enjoying Rojet nga Ankora in Albanian and Arwyr Ancora in Welsh; it means so much for them to be able to use the app in their heart-languages.

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