Acts to Paul (5)
Pray Psalm 33.20-22.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.
Sing Psalm 33.20-22.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.
Read Acts 3.1-9; Acts 17.22-28; Phil. 3.7-14; meditate on Acts 3.6-9.
Preparation
1. What did Peter have to give this man?
2. What happened as a result?
Meditation
What did Peter have to give this man? Not power, for that belongs to the Spirit of God alone. Not curative skills, for he was a fisherman, not a physician. Peter had the Name of Jesus and the authority of His Word. That Word derives from and points to Jesus, and Peter spoke that Word to this man’s need, trusting confidently in the Name of Jesus to bring restoration and renewal.
Paul reminds us that, through Him Who created all things, God gives life to every creature. And He gives new life in the Name of Jesus to all who believe His Word.
Jesus’ Word is for the healing of a sin-wracked world, and for its uprightness. Those who come to know Jesus by His Word are released from the burdens of sin into the rejoicing of those who know God. And they become a source of amazement and rejoicing to all who observe them. No wonder Paul resolved to put everything in his past behind him, that he might know more of the life-giving Name of Jesus.
We have been given the Word of God, from which flows living water for the healing of the nations. And we have the Name of Jesus upon us—Christian. The Spirit within us uses the words of Jesus to transform us increasingly into His likeness (2 Cor. 3.12-18). And, in the Name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit overflows life-giving words and works from us to refresh the souls of others (Jn. 6.63; 7.37-39).
Our goal is that which Paul pursued: Greater realization of and likeness to the Name of Jesus. Our power is the power that Peter wielded: The Name of Jesus for eternal life in Him. There is no other Name given among men under heaven whereby we may have life (Acts 4.12).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Without Christ we are merely dead men walking.
But in Christ we have life to the full—abundantly (Jn. 10.10).
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33.4).
By Christ’s life-giving power we have a plan, purpose, and potential.
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;
but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind
and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal
for the prize
of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3.10-14).
“As for me,
I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake
in Your likeness” (Ps. 17.15).
“The way of life winds upward for the wise,
that he may turn away from hell below” (Prov. 15.24).
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn. 1.4).
“For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and He shall stand at last on the earth;
and after my skin is destroyed,
this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19.25-27).
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Break me! Melt me! Mold me! Fill me!
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
(Daniel Iverson, 1926)
Reflection
1. Which aspects of life in Jesus bring you the most joy?
2. In which aspects of life in Jesus do you most need to improve?
3. Whom will you encourage today to seek a greater measure of the salvation and life we have in Jesus?
“‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up.” Such was also the way of Christ. Often he healed by word, often by an act, often he also held out his hand, when the people were somewhat weak in faith, so that the cure should not seem to occur by itself. John Chrysostom (344-457), Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 8
Pray Psalm 33.1-9.
Praise God for His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the Scriptures which proclaim His Name on every page. Thank Him for the gift of life and the gift of eternal life. Pray that you might know more of Jesus present with you throughout this day.
Sing Psalm 33.1-9.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the LORD, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!
Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the LORD loves truth and righteousness.
God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.
Let all below now fear the LORD; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by His own Word; let all on earth in Him confide.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. Our twice weekly column, Crosfigell, is well into a series on the life of Brendan the Navigator, one of the great saints of the 6th century. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues to unpack the secrets of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
