God's Word for Me Today
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
Focus: Our Mission With The World
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit as I open Your Word. Give me wisdom and discernment to not only understand what I read, but also to apply it in living as Your witness today. Grant that I may live in faithfulness to Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Acts 3:1-20
1Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2As 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. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. 6But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. 8He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11They all rushed out to Solomon’s Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
12Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power and godliness? 13For it is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of all our ancestors who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16“The name of Jesus has healed this man—and you know how lame he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has caused this healing before your very eyes.
17“Friends, I realize that what you did to Jesus was done in ignorance; and the same can be said of your leaders. 18But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had declared about the Messiah beforehand—that he must suffer all these things. 19Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. 20Then wonderful times of refreshment will come .
Questions for Reflection
What is the most exciting or amazing miracle you have ever experienced or heard about in your life?
What is one limitation you have always hoped Jesus would overcome in your life?
How would you feel if you were one of the Israelites listening to Peter’s explanation of how the lame man had been healed?
Questions for Exploration
What was the purpose of Peter and John’s trip to the temple? What happened instead? (3:1-7)
Peter ties the reality of who Jesus is, into the history and tradition of Israel, how does he do this? (3:13)
What evidence does Peter give that the people should believe that Jesus is the Messiah? (3:14-18)
What does Peter call the people to do in response to Jesus? (3:19-20)
Questions for Understanding
What was the source of Peter and John’s power to heal?
Why did Peter remind the Israelites that they had convinced Pilate to crucify Jesus, and then say that he was a witness of God’s raising Jesus from the dead?
What does Peter tell the people is the process for making Jesus their Messiah and receiving “refreshment.”
Questions for Application
Peter and John were going to the Temple to pray when a ministry opportunity came to them. The first reality of being a faithful disciple of Jesus is that God can use us at anytime, no matter what we have planned. Be sure to include God in all you do today so that He can work in Your plans and in addition to them!
Peter uses the healing of the lame beggar as an opportunity for being a witness to Jesus’ Lordship and salvation. What is going on in your life today that offers you that opportunity? Commit to telling at least one person today of something Jesus has done for you.
Peter tells the crowd that if they want Jesus’ salvation, they must turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins may be cleansed. This is called “repentance” in traditional Christian language. Take some time right now to confess to God sins you have committed that are keeping you from being all He intends!
Living Jesus’ PLAN in the Unexpected!
As Peter and John headed for the Temple they never expected that God would use them to heal a lame beggar. Their “daily planner” told them it was time to join in the community prayer time. Nevertheless, when the unexpected opportunity came up, they made the most of it. How did Peter and John recognize this opportunity to live Jesus’ PLAN with the world, instead of seeing it as a nuisance, or an impediment to doing God’s will? We’re not told in the passage, but it’s clear from reading the Book of Acts, that the apostles held to their own plans loosely—they were always ready to set aside their agendas in order to listen to the Holy Spirit. As we go about this day, let’s listen carefully for the voice of the Holy Spirit, so we may also live out Jesus’ PLAN in the unexpected events of our lives. Let’s always be ready to be witnesses for Him!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.