Sunday Scripture

Time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is part of an ongoing series on my simple study of Rachel Wojo's Everything Beautiful.  You can read about the plan here if you are interested in it for yourself: Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what I learned back in 2018, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later.  I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Today's study is from Acts 3:1-10.

S= "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

" And a certain man, lame from his birth, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,  to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

"Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.

" And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.

"And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.

" 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.

"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

" And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

"And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

" And they knew that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.". (Acts 3:1-10)

O= This passage is titled by Scofield, "The first apostolic miracle: the lame man healed."

Peter and John went up to the temple "at the hour of prayer ...  the ninth hour."  (v.1)  A marginal note tells us that this was 3 pm.

Concerning the Beautiful Gate (v.2, 10)  Warren Wiersbe explains in Be Dynamic, his study of Acts 1-12, "There were nine gates that led from the Court of the Gentiles into the temple itself.  Scholars are not agreed, but the Beautiful Gate was probably the 'Eastern Gate' that led into the Court of the Women.  Made of Corinthian bronze, the gate looked like gold; and it certainly was a choice place for a lame man to beg."

Cross-reference for "in the name of Jesus Christ ..." (v.6) -- "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand before you well."  (Acts 4:10)

Cross-references for "received strength" (v.7) -- "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people ..." (Acts 5:12) 

"And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."  (Matthew 8:3)

"And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux; to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.  So when this was done, others also in the island, who had diseases, came and were healed."  (Acts 28:8-9)

Cross-reference for "all the people" (v.9) -- The Sanhedrin "conferred among themselves, saying, what shall we do to these men?  For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it ... So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done."  (Acts 4:16, 21)

A= For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal.  

"I long to portray the kind of beauty that makes people stop and ponder." -- Rachel Wojo

I so agree with this thought!   It fits with "all to the glory of God".  This spring Mr. T and I have been serving as volunteers maintaining a truly beautiful place -- The Wilds of New England.  In every season, even winter and spring when the camp is not functioning, it portrays beauty in its buildings and plantings.  I believe it is the kind of beauty that frequently does make people stop and ponder why this organization puts their heart and soul into doing all to God's glory.  And in answering that question they will find the answer to their own hearts' needs as well. 

Warren Wiersbe notes in With the Word: "Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals.  Nor were they so busy in ministry that they could not pray.  They had learned their lessons well from the Lord Jesus."

He adds, "The emphasis in chapters 3-4 is on the name of Jesus, the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).  Faith in the name of Jesus releases power so that lives are changed.  To pray or minister in His name means to ask or act on His authority so that He alone gets the glory."

Rachel also shares a "focus word" in each of the devotional pages.  I hadn't previously paid much attention to these for the Sunday Scripture posts, but have decided to do so now.

So for this lesson the focus word is "miracle".  In thinking of this word, I noted: We see in this passage how Peter and John, in the power of Jesus' name,  did a miracle in the life of a lame man.  And it's another miracle every time a lost sinner comes to know Jesus as Savior!  

This incredible display of the Daffodils of Dunbarton is on both sides of the road on our route to our volunteer jobs.  So beautiful!

The question was asked: What season or circumstance in life challenges me to see God's gifts of beauty?

My response in 2018: This season right now -- being injured and trying to take proper care of myself, feeling pretty miserable a lot of the time -- is indeed challenging.

Answering this same question in 2024:

 I think what might be the most challenging is any time of trial -- whether something physical as in 2018, or another type of difficulty.  As I look back at my responses from that time of injury, I am so thankful that God helped me to see some of His beauty then.  But even more thankful that He helped me grow through that time so I am much more open to seeing His gifts of beauty.

This prompt was given, along with a list: Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.

These are the places I circled: The words I read; the people I encounter; the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.

In 2024 I can note that for the words I read, I had been reading Isaiah 61 and was struck by the beautiful descriptions of God and His working found in that passage.

For the weather I experience, I mentioned a soft, steady spring rain nourishing the colorful flowers and green grass.

For the people I encounter, I noted the beauty of God's people working together to do all for His glory.

A journaling prompt was this:  List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.

My response in 2018: Look out the window; enjoy the snowy landscape.  Walk outside if possible, soaking up some sunshine, listening for birdsong.

For my response in 2024, I added:  Notice the many beautiful flower beds and plantings here at TWNE, along with the unplanted ones like marsh marigolds blooming brightly in a stream, purple and white violets blooming everywhere, and a solitary dandelion springing up in the middle of a brick patio.

Marsh marigolds

P= "Lord, I too would long to portray the kind of beauty that makes people stop and ponder.  The season of pain and difficulty I underwent in 2018, though, was so very ugly that I just couldn't see how that would happen.  I prayed back then that somehow my trusting and resting in You while waiting for my body to heal would show forth Your beauty in some way.  

Now, with that trial six years in the rear-view mirror, I praise You for bringing me through it and for allowing me now to serve You in a place of great beauty, a place that requires much hard work and planning on the part of many people to maintain that beauty.   I thank  You for allowing me and my husband to be a part of all You are doing there. I pray in Jesus' name , Amen."

 And there is this week's Sunday Scripture!  I pray it's a blessing to someone.