RECEIVING IS SPIRITUAL
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“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”—I John 3:22
Laurence Leamer said that the difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is a twist of the wrist. The man sitting at the gate of the temple called Beautiful asking for alms certainly experienced this difference when Peter and John did the unexpected (Acts 3: 1 – 8).
The man asking for alms was expecting an outstretched palm in the form of a “hand-out,” but he
received a “hand-up” when Peter told him that he did not have any silver or gold to give to him; but, that he would give him what he had. Peter then commanded the man to rise and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth; he then took him by the right hand lifted him up, and the man’s ankle bones immediately received strength. The man got up walking, leaping and praising God.
When most people hear the word “receive” they tend to think of accepting something. The man asking for alms did something more than merely accept what Peter had said. The word, receive, in this passage means to “get hold of.” This man spiritually “got-a-hold” of what Peter was saying, and the Bible tells us that he physically held onto Peter’s hand and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He stood up and began walking, leaping and praising God. Let’s be like the man asking for alms and receive (get hold of) what God is saying to us.
Laurence Leamer said that the difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is a twist of the wrist. The man sitting at the gate of the temple called Beautiful asking for alms certainly experienced this difference when Peter and John did the unexpected (Acts 3: 1 – 8).
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
received a “hand-up” when Peter told him that he did not have any silver or gold to give to him; but, that he would give him what he had. Peter then commanded the man to rise and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth; he then took him by the right hand lifted him up, and the man’s ankle bones immediately received strength. The man got up walking, leaping and praising God.
When most people hear the word “receive” they tend to think of accepting something. The man asking for alms did something more than merely accept what Peter had said. The word, receive, in this passage means to “get hold of.” This man spiritually “got-a-hold” of what Peter was saying, and the Bible tells us that he physically held onto Peter’s hand and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He stood up and began walking, leaping and praising God. Let’s be like the man asking for alms and receive (get hold of) what God is saying to us.
Prayer—Lord, thank you for helping me to not only to accept what you are saying to me, but really get hold of what you are saying so that it will bring about a change in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen
