Scripture reading for today: Acts 5 – 6; Psalm 108
Speaking of “transfer” (see the previous two days’ devotional to understand this phrase), check out Peter in chapter 3 of Acts. Remember that when last we left Peter, he was being a big goof. Although promising Jesus (and sincerely meaning it) that he would never leave him nor forsake him, Peter denies that he knows Jesus–not once, not twice, but three times. After Jesus’ death and resurrection (but prior to his ascension back into the heavens) Jesus and Peter have a little meeting (see John 21.) We’re left with mixed emotions as we read how Jesus questions Peter. The reader is left with the impression that Jesus is trying to communicate more truth to Peter than Peter can receive at that moment. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m left with the distinct sense that Peter is still a big goof.
But praise be to God! Even big goofs are provided the opportunity to participate in God’s grand, epic adventure. Part of Peter’s problem in the gospels is the same one we have; we want God to be the god (notice the lower-case “g”) of our understanding and we don’t want anyone clarifying our understanding! We can only experience God as we understand Him. If our understanding is “not quite right,” it will be difficult for us to recognize a God moment when we have one. This is a hard concept, but think about it. We can only experience God as we understand Him, so we pray that he will expand our understanding!
Evidently, he did this with Peter. In Acts 3, a lame man comes to Peter and presents a perceived need; he needs money. Peter, “transferring” what he has learned from the Christ, provides him with something far more valuable; he heals him. The only experience the lame guy had was with people helping him the only way they knew how–throwing him a few coins so that he might buy food and shelter. That’s all he could conceive: help came in the form of money.
Peter understood that God meets our needs in wildly unpredictable–and far grander–ways than we can imagine. He learned this through experience, and failure, and frustration. This wasn’t intellectual head knowledge. This was a man who had some time to reflect back on his relationship with Jesus and perhaps had a few moments of clarity. Jesus miraculously “transferred” key information to Peter: God Is, and God Will. But He “will” in ways that are mysterious to us. We think small, but God thinks deep. We think money to ease the pain. God thinks ease the pain by healing the wound.
I wonder what small things you’ve been asking for instead of the thing that God wants to give you. I wonder if maybe, just maybe the thing is right in front of you, and you’re missing it because you’re looking for the only thing you can understand. You want your pain eased; God wants your wounds healed.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
“Coming to believe” eventually involves deciding to trust that God is with us, that God is for us, that God can and will strengthen and help us, that he will uphold us with his righteous right hand. He does these things not because he has to, not because we earned them, but because he desires this for us.