Inventory

SCRIPTURE: Neh. 11-12; Ps. 1; Acts 3

Acts 3:1-8
One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

OBSERVATIONS: Another classic example of:

• giving people what they need rather than what they want–or think they need
• giving extravagantly
• being able to give what one has (“you can’t give what you don’t have”)
• powerful healing in the name of Jesus

APPLICATION: What don’t I have that I must have? The next right answer? The next hot program? What I must ask myself is, “Do I have faith in Christ, and can I offer that to others?” Today, the answer is yes.

PRAYER: God, thank you for giving me what I could never have without You. I will try to remember that the faith that you have refreshed this day will be enough for me–and for anyone who passes this way in need of it! Because of Christ and through Christ I pray, Amen.