The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 3:1-10, “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, ‘Look at us!’
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!’
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Have you ever commenced something only to have it challenged by someone or something else? For example, you were intending to clean out a room when a nearby house caught on fire? You intention was immediately arrested, and you went to help a neighbor.

I once heard a pastor introduce this passage by saying, “Here are two men of prayer, in an attitude of prayer, going to the place of prayer, when they encountered a man who needed prayer.” There is truly something to be said in that; for if Peter and John had not been men of prayer, none of the rest would have been realized.

What the beggar wanted was not at what he needed. Life is like that. And once those arguably “needed” items have been possessed, even for a short time, they suffer displacement by something brighter and newer, though not-at-all more practical.

Who knows what that poor man was thinking when Peter said, “Look at us… I do not possess silver and gold…”? Yet, Peter had not completed his thought. How many times have you and I been disappointed when someone tendered to us something that was incomplete? We need always to listen carefully before we embrace any situation.

Peter then finished his thought by saying, “…but what I do have I give to you.” What Peter possessed and ultimately shared with the beggar was of infinitely more value than what the beggar had initially asked. Isn’t that just like the LORD? He always gives more than we expect –much more that we even deserve.

Peter then invoked the Name of Jesus saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” Peter then seized the man by hand and raised him up. “Immediately, his feet and his ankles were strengthened…and he stood upright!”

If we only knew that “Jesus is everything; and everything is in Jesus!” Things impossible to us are possible only through Him. What do you know or possess or want to possess that is ultimately of greater value than Jesus Himself? Think about it. Then, give your heart and life to Him. There is no greater treasure.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom