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!”
Acts 3:4-6
In the last Gem I addressed Suryadi’s and Laurel’s questions. I think it is now time to stop. I told you I would be guided by your responses to determine whether I continue this topic or focus of discussion or not. Both Suryadi and Laurel responded as well as Petra. I have copied their responses below.
Suryadi Hertanto’s Response:
Firstly, thanks for your attention Ian, clearly the question I put forward became the topic for an interesting discussion. I have been looking for answers and clearly what you put forward in Gem 1395, through the Holy Spirit, has given clarity, especially when you added the link from your discussion on Bartimaeus.
[Ian’s additional comment: Yes the Bartimaeus story adds interesting insights to this one. That is why I added it; I am so glad you bothered to look it up Suryadi. Good on you for going the extra mile.]Laurel’s Response:
Thank you so much pak Ian for the explanation about healing, just like you’ve said: As you move higher up the chain you realise that you don’t necessarily know all the facts. How much truer must that be when it comes to God and us in matters of prayer for healing. In the end leave it to God who judges justly and trust His judgement or His willingness to heal or not as the case may be. That is why He is God and we are not.” When I pray for someone to be healed (whether they believe in Jesus or not) I always ask God to give them what’s best according to His way, for everything comes from Him. We as human always want to be healed, be healthy again, etc but that’s what we want. So if God wants that person to be healed, he will be. So yes, you can move on to another topic.
Petra’s Response:
I like the way you put it in pieces. This is my favourite verse. “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!” 🙂 Awesome verse. For me personally, it refers to all Christians. What we have inside is more valuable and precious than just silver or gold. The power of God. The anointing, the power of God is within us. if what we have inside is more valuable than gold or silver, than we must be the most wanted person in the world. The most need to be meet by every person who doesn’t have God in their lives. Because we are most likely Jesus who share joy and happiness. Solutions. Blessings. Peace. All we need to do just to be available to be use by God the way Peter and John did. Be connected with heaven, so we will know how to share the “good news” and perform miracles. Thank you for sharing Ian… Love it! (As always)
So I am taking Laurel and Petra’s advice and moving on. There was more to comment on but as I have said before I will take my cue from you, the readers. But interestingly enough, I want to focus on what Petra ended with. It is a fascinating verse. We have already discussed some aspects of it in the context of laying the foundation. Interesting that both Peter and John looked at him intently as I have commented before. Why did they do that? When did the moment change from merely noticing this man at the scene, to the point when he has their full undivided attention? I don’t think it was necessarily Peter and John’s doing. I think it was the Holy Spirit taking them and setting their gaze on the man. The Holy Spirit has done that many times with me in the past. It is the moment when the God moment comes. When God is directing your steps or your gaze. The lame man’s moment had come for healing but he didn’t really do anything to warrant it. He was still focused on money. Oh, how our habits can hamper our progress. His eagerness was not the expectation of what God would do or what Peter and John would do apart from giving him money. Money was what he was there for and money was what he was focused on. “So give me the money”! But God had so much more in store for him.
Take a moment to ponder this one verse:
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!”
Let God speak to you through it. It is deep, so poignant, so contrastive and full of implications for us and the lame men in our lives. Think on it and we will look at it in depth in the next Gem. I have to ease you back into it. Time to stimulate those brain cells again.
We expect people to change first before we extend acceptance, don’t make change the price tag of acceptance.
Paul Scanlon
If we charge for acceptance by expecting change we become illegal traders. What God gave freely you can’t charge for.
Paul Scanlon
The best way to get people to change is to overwhelm them with acceptance so they begin to volunteer to change.
Paul Scanlon
When we try to control the change and police the acceptance we become holiness cops.
Paul Scanlon
Anytime you expect anyone to meet needs in your life that only God can meet, it’s unfair to them & disappointing to you.
Rick Warren
The difference between expectation and contra-expectation is the source of frustration. Allow God to set your expectations and see what happens.
Ian Vail
Expectation is the atmosphere for miracles.
Edwin Louis Cole