June 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 3:1–8

Devotional

Peter fastens his eyes on the lame beggar and tells him, “Silver and gold have I none.” Initially this must have been a disappointment for the lame man. He needed the assistance of others to get through life. Many had given him money so that he could buy food and drink. But Peter could not give the man money. To be sure, Peter and John were just as poor as this beggar himself.

The world need not expect much from the church in terms of gold and silver. You should not be a member of the church to acquire wealth and goods. You should not come to the house of prayer expecting to find gold and silver.

“Silver and gold have I none,” says Peter. The church does not give silver and gold and the Word of God does not offer it. If the church were to supply gold and silver, what would the result be? There would certainly be no shortage of churches throughout the entire world. No one would have to be admonished because of their unfaithfulness in church attendance. Silver and gold would make people glad, but none would be saved. All would perish in their misery. That is why gold and silver are not the purpose of the church. Ultimately silver and gold will not benefit you. He who wants to practice religion with silver and gold will be deceived with such an idol. The Lord is not a God of gold and silver.

“Silver and gold have I none.” What was it then that Peter had? Silver and gold could only provide temporary relief for this man. You can compare silver and gold to a covering on a wound. But what if the wound is incurable? Then the covering would perhaps soothe the wound and decrease the pain somewhat, but it would not restore the patient to health. Would it not be better if the wound itself would be healed? And that is why this man does not receive silver or gold. It is as we find in 2 Chronicles 25:9, “The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” The Lord had much more in store for this man than he himself could ever imagine. God was going to remove the cause of the lame man’s misery. His lameness was to be taken away! “Silver and gold have I none,” says Peter, “but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

 

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.