Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Walk" (Acts 3.6).
Taking this picture of the Great Blue Heron standing in the golden sunlit water reminded me of a beautiful truth in this verse.
Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they encountered a crippled beggar. The beggar was expecting a few coins but received something of far greater worth. Peter tells the beggar that he did not have silver or gold but what he did have he would give to him.
What Peter had to give the beggar was the Prince of Peace, The Fairest of Ten Thousand, The Bright and Morning Star, The Lion of Judah, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, Jesus! For Peter immediately said to the beggar, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" Peter took the beggar by the right hand and suddenly his feet and ankles were strengthened. The beggar began to leap and shout and praise God. Peter gave all the glory to God for healing the beggar.
Peter understood that the presence of God that dwelt in him gave him the authority in Jesus' name to command the crippled man to get up.
The presence of God works through willing vessels like Peter to give people dignity and right standing before God. The true gold the beggar received was not his functioning ankles and legs, but JESUS!
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