Acts 3
January 31, 2010 by: biblereadingcompanion
Bible Passage: Acts 3
Everytime I read this passage, I want to sing the familiar children’s song “Peter and John Went to Pray” :) But surprisingly, I am not able to find a Youtube video of it! So you can’t sing along with me!
As I was reading, I was also reflecting on what new lessons that Jesus wants me to learn today from such an often read and refered to passage. J
ust before typing these words, I was out to the market to buy breakfast. And on the way there, I met one of our old truthseeking friend who has been coming to church for some months now.
We were both happy to see each other and we chatted a bit and it was indeed a constant reminder that how wonderful it is that God opens up doors where we least expect it.
Then when I came home, my wife pointed out to me that one of our brothers is featured in the newspaper! This is a brother I really admire for his selfless help he has rendered to many. And there he was in the newspaper, doing something which I know is definitely not for himself but for the needs of our fellow brethren. May God remember his love and labours.
Where am I going with all this?
Peter and John went to pray and they met a lame man on the way. And what happened next was an example of how ministry met the needs of those who really needed it.
Look at how Peter and John engaged the crippled man. They had direct eye contact. They treated him with respect and dignity. They acknowledged who he was and did not shun him or look down on him just because he was a beggar and looked funny.
What they gave was incomparably greater value than a few dollars in a cup. They offered him a reason to lift his head - and jump - and praise God! They offered him a permanent solution to begging and an opportunity for a relationship with Christ.
Dignity and respect cannot be bought.
Donating moneymay solve a problem. And while it may be good in itself, it may not always be the complete solution or the resolution that the person needs.
The poor, the needy, the suffering - they all need the dignity that comes from being treated as people - not as objects of need.
Engaging directly with those who suffer might be uncomfortable at first, but it means a whole lot to them to be treated like one of us - with respect, love and warmth.
The old truthseeker that I met this morning has been coming to church regularly for the last few months (even more regular than some of us). This despite the fact that many of us are not able to communicate effectively with him. And inspite of the fact that we could do a lot more in making him feel welcome and part of us.
There are many who are ‘different’ from us because of their circumstance. We should not be so quick to judge on a person’s appearance and needs and decide how or why we treat a person a certain way.
We must learn to be like this brother who was in the newspapers today. He has done many things silently and willingly. He sees the needs of members and helps them… expecting nothing in return. He finds out the needs and meets them. He treats these brethren with love and respect and there is so much I need to learn from him.
Pretty much like Peter and John.
In a church, the body of Christ where we are all one big family, we need to really learn how to love and care for one another not just in words, but in deeds. And it starts with us.
I really like how the translator of the New Message Bible puts 1 John 4:20-21…
If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
There are many brothers and sisters who are in suffering and pain. There are the lost in the world, desperately seeking for something that will bring meaning to their lives. Although they may need material help, very often what is needed most is spiritual and emotional support. They need our love and understanding and to be treated with dignity.
And maybe, when restored to completeness like the lame man, they will also go leaping and jumping and praising God!
Let us strive to be like Peter and John… not only pointint them to Jesus but also to treat them with dignity and respect.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:23 am
Peter said,”Repent, therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that the time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
Can the above verse be explained as:
Repentance : sufficient for sins to be blotted out
Time of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord: we are new creation from the moment we repent, ie baptism is not necessary as sins are already blotted out and salvation secured.
Can this verse be explained this way? No, it is wrong, blatantly misquoting the verse out of context. Peter said 1 chapter earlier that ” Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
It is similar to Rom 10:9 being quoted to say that baptism is not necessary for the remission of sins as “that you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Sometimes we panic when others refute us with Rom 10:9 bec Paul was not Peter and Rom 10:9 was far away from Acts 2:38.
Peter and Paul preached the same gospel from Lord Jesus. 2 Pet 3:15 “and consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,” and Gal 1:8 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accused.”