“But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’”
Acts 3:6 NLT
Have you ever found yourself thinking that life is too normal? That much of our time is spent doing the same things over and over again? In my own life, I have discovered that the Lord lives in these moments, the normal and the mundane, just as He is in the extraordinary ones. There is truth in this because it’s also seen in Scripture, specifically in Acts 3:1-8. In this story, we see the disciples, Peter and John, heading to Temple. They’re not doing anything out of the ordinary, rather they’re going to their regular afternoon prayer.
However, it’s in this moment of normality that a lame man begging at the gate of the temple, who was there every day, asked them for money. It was then, with true intent, Peter said they did not have money, but commanded the beggar in Jesus’ name to get up and walk.
All of this happened on the way to Temple. This moment where God empowered them didn’t happen in a moment they made, but it interrupted them when they were just “commuting” to the place they needed to be – a “normal” moment. You may have felt like this in your own life, just trying to get your errands done when something else comes up and you have to stop what you were doing.
The most important thing to notice about this story is that Peter and John became aware of something they had inside, something more valuable than gold and silver: they had the power and authority that Jesus had given them to bless and heal others in His name! In a task they had done many other times, a man who had been begging in the same spot every day finally got their attention, and the Lord gave them the power to heal that man. Just like Peter and John, you have that same power within you!
Many times, we forget to embrace the interruptions of our normal routines; we forget that these are times we can choose to see if God is pushing us to bless someone or recognize a move He is doing within us. If you’ve felt this, let me encourage you ask the Lord to guide your steps and place people in your path that He wants to encounter through you. Be like Peter and John and give to others what the Lord has given to you!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know it is easy to forget You when I’m doing my normal routine. Yet, Your power is present all the time! Help me to remember You when I am doing a simple task, and that any moment can be one for ministry! Show me the power You have blessed me with. Use me to allow others to encounter You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Extra Reading
“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”
Acts 3:1-8 NLT
