Acts 3:1-8 NLT
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
My eyes well up with tears every time I read about this encounter.
Three people meet at a busy spot, two on their way to worship, and one placed there to beg for survival.
What was it about Peter and John that attracted the attention of the beggar?
He asked them for money.
He had a need and he thought his need was money.
I guess that they weren’t carrying any money; when Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent them out with only two things, the clothes on their back and a walking stick. But what they had to offer to this beggar was far more valuable than money and would change his life forever.
Both of them looked at him ”intently” or with intention. Confident that what they were about to offer was of eternal value to this man.
Peter said, ”Look at us!” he wanted the man’s full attention. He took the man’s attention off his immediate and current circumstance, and the man was eagerly looking for money.
Peter said, ”I don’t have any silver or gold for you.” I could only imagine where this man’s mind went when he heard this. Disappointed maybe…
Peter looked past what this man thought his immediate need was because he knew exactly what this man needed.
When we temporarily meet someone’s immediate need, we could be enabling an activity that continues to support an unhealthy habit that they have in their lives.
We need to be careful and practice Spiritual discernment before we meet a perceived financial need of someone; we could prolong a harmful pattern in their lives.
But Peter continued, ”But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk!” And then he reached down, grab him by the right hand, and helped him up.
He didn’t make the sign of the cross at him and say, ”I’ll keep you in my prayers,” merely walking by and continuing on his way. He reached down with what he knew without a doubt would change this man’s life forever, his hand, under the power of the Spirit of God.
As he did this the man was ”instantly healed and strengthened.”
Look at what we had here:
1. We had someone with a need. This is everyone around us. Everyone around us is suffering and in need of God’s reconciling power in their lives.
But not everyone will respond to this in the way we would think they should. So be prepared for this.
BUT…
1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
2. We had a person willing to reach down and help someone up.
When our heart’s posture ❤️ is set on being willing to help someone else, watch out because God is going to work through us in miraculous ways.
When you have someone open to change and someone willing to help you have a recipe for miracles.
This will happen in God’s timing, and our job is to be sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit working in our hearts.
Our part is to plant the seed of hope and water it; God is responsible for the result; we need to know our place, bringing us Devine joy.
Heavenly Father, I pray for an open and sensitive spirit to Your prompting.
Make me sensitive to others’ needs and give me the courage to respond with the love of Jesus Christ center in my heart.
Tempering my expectations and helping me to realize that every lasting change in the lives of those around me will be a result of Your hand, and You get and deserve all the credit.
In the loving name of Jesus Christ, I give You my life in humble service, Amen!! 🙏🏻❤️
