Crippled Beggar Requests Alms

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Acts 3:1-10 The Message

3 1-5 One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time, there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.
6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.
8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

For Reflection

Christ began God's work on Earth and finishes it in us. This story emphasizes that God's blessing is not for material gain. Instead, God's blessing is a spiritual matter that results in complete restoration of our humanity. To receive God's healing power all we need do is reach for God's hand as did the beggar. Our asking is a sign of our belief that God will respond--it is an act of trust that all will work for good in our lives. Paul's kindness was an act of prayer, and God healed the Beggar.

Pray

Pray that others will see in your face what the beggar saw in Paul's.  Pray that your prayers will be a conduit for the healing those in need who cross your path.

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Contrasting Responses

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Acts 13:44-49 The Message (MS
44-45 When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.
46-47 But Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down. Standing their ground they said, “It was required that God’s Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you want no part of it—you’ve made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal life—the door is open to all the outsiders. And we’re on our way through it, following orders, doing what God commanded when he said,
I’ve set you up
    as light to all nations.
You’ll proclaim salvation
    to the four winds and seven seas!”
48-49 When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.

For Reflection

Those Gentiles who stood outside the gate believed deeply in God.  As outsiders, rejected by the religion which both attracted them and deny their entry, they understood the meaning of salvation in a way the Jews could not.  They were prepared to hear Paul's message. The Gentiles put their trust in God. The Jews put their trust in their religion.  Where do you place your trust, in your perception of your religion or in the way of Christ? 

Pray

Pray that you will trust in the living God.  Pray that you will witness to the power of the Holy Spirit and let your faith guide your action.
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Your Faith Saved You

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Luke 7:44-50 The Message 

Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”

Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”
That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”
He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

For Reflection

As an act of ostentatious patronage, the Pharisees invited Christ into their house.Thinking that it was honor enough for a carpenter's son, they offered none of the usual hospitality.

She was a scandalous, notorious sinner who was deeply in debt. The Rabbi was also in debt but believed that because of his piety, God should be in debt to him!

She worshiped at Christ's feet, indicating her profound faith in Him. Her sin was forgiven and forgotten. Christ blessed her with salvation, a promise to abide with her forever. She left and rested in the blessings of Christ.

Pray

Pray so that you, as the woman, will accept the pardon of your sin.  Pray that you remember that you are a sinner and receive others who are also sinners with Christian hospitality and grace.
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A Blessing Promised to All Peoples

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Acts 3:22-26The Message

 19-23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.’
24-26 “All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God’s covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

For Reflection

Baptized by water and the blood of Christ we are reborn into salvation. Not new just in belief, but a changed person who is free to behave in the manner of Christ. In our word and action, we are prophets of hope. Our human legacy is to bless all whose paths intersect with ours.  As we live our extraordinary God-centered lives, we will, with God's help, change the world one person at a time.  This opportunity is God's gift to us.

Pray

Pray that you will live an extraordinary life guided by the Holy Spirit. Denounce your fear and pledge your life to the glory and honor of God.

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Take Refuge in the Lord

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Psalm 118:1-9 Amplified Bible

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Saving Goodness.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness endures forever.”
Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness endures forever.”
Oh let those who [reverently] fear the Lord, say,
“His lovingkindness endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can [mere] man do to me?
The Lord is on my side, He is among those who help me;
Therefore I will look [in triumph] on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.

For Reflection

It is good that in giving thanks to the Lord we remember God's sovereignty. Our faith is measured by our trust in God. Because of Christ, there is no fear (literal or figurative) in death.  Only living confronts our fears. Take comfort and rest in the Lord. He is the source of your strength to overcome all fear. In Christ, you are free to live as God has intended you to live, compassionately, lovingly, and fearlessly. What God has intended, no person can put asunder.

Pray

Give thanks to the living God who comforts you and protects your soul.

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Benediction

Remembering the Covenant

Jude 1: 25 The Message 

24-25 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.

For Reflection

Remember your God Story.  Stand tall, washed in the presence of God.

Pray

Pray that you will respond to Jude's call for humble and fruitful participation in the Kingdom of God.

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Participating in Spiritual Worship

Remembering the Covenant

Romans 12:1-2, 6-8 The Message

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
6-8 If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

For Reflection

A Christian life is a life lived as a prayer. It is a life that is centered by the Holy Spirit.  It is a life of humble service in ways that honor God and advance God's Kingdom.  It is a life lived unselfishly. It is an ordinary life lived extraordinarily!

Pray

Pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise for God who has made you in God's image, a creative being, entrusted with the well being of God's creation.  Pray so that you can be a humble collaborator in God's will for humankind.

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