Tuesday 02 May 2017

Psalm: Psalm144

Background

Leaving last week's Pentecost-related storiesbehind, today's passage moves into Acts 3 with Peter and John goingto the temple to pray in the afternoon. In spite of their newinfilling of the Holy Spirit, these followers of Jesus remainedfirmly Jewish in upbringing, tradition and customs. Churches,belonging to a new Christian tradition, were still in thefuture.

A crippled man appealed to Peter and John for somemoney (verse 3). Presumably begging, or appealing to the generosityof devout people on their way to prayer, enables the crippled manto exist. What Peter and John then offer is something that movesthe beggar from reliance on others, to stand, quite literally, onhis own two feet; he moves from merely existing to a place thatJesus probably had in mind when he said, "I have come that they mayhave life, and have it abundantly" (John10:10). There are also echoes here of Luke9:1-11, where Jesus sends the twelve disciples without him to,among other signs of the kingdom, heal the sick. Later in the samechapter, faced with a very hungry crowd of people, Jesus challengesthose same disciples, "You give them something to eat" (Luke9:13).

Jesus taught, encouraged and equipped his closestfollowers to respond to the needs that are all around them.Realising that they now have the gift of the Holy Spirit, Peter andJohn are clearly emboldened, not in their own strength, but "in thename of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Peter and John might have wondered how Jesus wouldhave responded in this situation if he had still been with them.But, of course, they have now received Christ's Spirit. Once theyare clear about the power they now have available, they can offerthis man the way of transformation that comes with wholeness oflife in the name of Jesus. In our own prayer life, how important itis to spend time making sure that what we pray for is notself-centred, but to align ourselves with the Christ who isrevealed to us in the Bible, aware of what power lies withinus.

To Ponder

• What difference has there been in your own life by being awareof the presence of the Holy Spirit?

• Being filled with God's Spirit is exciting and yet full ofresponsibility. What might you do today, aware of the indwellingSpirit, that you feel that you could not do in your ownstrength?