THE GREEN HALL

There was a student in my class who seldom ever did his homework. He had recently transferred to our school from a private school ran by the Catholic nuns. He had excellent manners for he was always addressing our teacher as "Sir" and would stand up before speaking in class. The rest of us students did not come close to him as far as manners were concerned. He took part in class discussions, and he seemed to be an intelligent student. But he was super lazy, and he would not do his homework for anything. Our teacher did all that he could to encourage and motivate him to do his homework, but to no avail.

One day, we had a very important homework assignment that absolutely had to get done or else. Well, now, he was really going to get in deep, deep trouble. Right? Not really because we struck up a deal. I would do his homework, and he would pay me 25 cents (a bunch of money in those days).

The Apostles Peter and John didn't even have 25 cents to give to the lame man begging for alms there by the Gate Beautiful. But they did something that was worth more than all the money in the world. They introduced him to the Lord Jesus Christ and the power He had to make him whole. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,"  Peter said to the man, "rise up and walk."  You can read the story in Acts 3:1-11.