Back to
Editorial Index

  "Such As I Have"  

"...such as I have give I thee..."   Acts 3:6      Read this Bible narrative

Many years ago, a missionary came to our church and spoke. His message was simple, yet so spiritually profound that it changed my entire thinking about missions both home and abroad. One of the statements he made was, "you cannot export what you do not have." A depth far beyond the simplicity of the words is a spiritual truth so powerful as to make void most of what we call ministry today. No matter whether you carry the gospel across the globe or across your front yard, you cannot give away what you do not posses.

In Acts 3:1-8, Luke narrates the story of Peter and John on their way to church to pray. A lame man sitting at the door, sees the two men approaching and figures he would ask for a little spare change. The scripture uses an interesting word in the next verse. It says that Peter "fastened his eyes" upon the lame man. The Strong's word, atenizo (Greek #816); means to gaze intently, behold earnestly. Now that's a man with a mission!

Peter then goes on to make one of the most profound statements of the Bible. His simple words reveal a power in humility. Listen to what he says, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee". Here is the defining point between the natural world and the spiritual. Such As I Have!

Most today claim to have, but have not. The devil has no fear of them because their boast is empty, just like the seven son's of Sceva. Peter however, was not boasting. What he had was real, and all the hordes of hell feared what words might come forth from this great man of God. You can only give away what you posses.

The Church is in desperate need of men broken before God, who posses true spiritual life, and who can give their life away that another might live. Herein is the greatest gift of all, the life of Christ in us... to give away. "Such as I have give I thee."

— by Randy Munter

Back to Top

<< Back Home