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November 15 Daily Devotional

The Consequences of Sin

Frans Bakker

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. —Acts 3:6

Bible Reading

Acts 3:1–10

Devotional

It is not easy to have to live off what people give you. But for the lame man who is lying at the gate of the temple, there is no alternative. He cannot work. He can only beg for he was born as a cripple. Never has this crippled man known a time that he could walk. From his childhood on he has not been able to join in with the activities of others. In his childhood he still had parents who would care for him. But now he is alone. He experiences no compassion from those around him and resorts to begging for his daily provisions.

Peter and John walk by the temple gate and see the lame man. He begs for alms and hopes for success in his pleas. Little did he know who he encountered! Peter and John were full of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Initially it must have been a disappointment for him when Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none.” According to the standards of this world, the church of God has nothing to offer. The church does not satisfy worldly interests.

Imagine how full churches would be, twice every Lord’s Day, if gold and silver were offered there. The houses of prayer would be overflowing if everything that promoted prosperity, health, and wealth, were available for the taking. To receive these things, however, one need not go to the front courts of the Lord. Temporary possessions are not emphasized at the Lord’s house. That is why worldly people have very little interest toward the things of the Lord.

Peter cannot offer money or possessions. “But,” he says, “such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” The expression is a call to faith extended to this crippled man. Faith is necessary to receive something of “the Nazarene,” this Jesus who was reckoned with the criminals, who was crucified, who died, who was buried, and who was raised again to life. Faith in the name of Jesus brings great blessings, but not necessarily blessings of silver and gold. That is why He was despised and rejected of men. Men were looking for earthly blessings.

To those who live by faith the name of Jesus means everything. The name Jesus does not deliver man only from the consequences of sin, but above all from the cause of sin. Faith in Jesus does more than gold and silver can do. That is what this man experienced by faith. For even if he had received enough gold so that he would never have to beg for the rest of his life, with all this, the cause of his misery, that is his paralysis, would not be removed.

But now the lame man hears: “Rise up and walk.” Through this Name he is delivered from the cause of his misery. The fact that he can now stand up and walk is of far greater value than all the gold and silver. What would gold and silver have meant to this man? It would have meant nothing more than ointment upon an incurable wound. Jesus delivers from the cause of our misery. Do we believe this?

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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