He was born lame and was resigned to a life of lying at the gate of the temple begging the people entering for whatever coins they might spare. This day, he saw a couple of Galileans about to enter the temple and so, like all the rest, he asked them hopeful they would have some money they were willing to share.
They were indeed willing to share but they had no money. What they were about to offer him, however, could not have been purchased with any amount of money. Peter explains as he looked into the lame man's eyes saying, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (Acts 3:6).
Lame was no longer a fit description for this man as evidenced by the fact that "he went with [Peter and John] into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God" (v. 8). He did not receive at all what he was looking for but he got all that he was longing for: instead of money, he was given mobility. Money he would now be able to earn, mobility could only have come by grace.
You and I will not always have what someone asks of us at any given moment, but what grace could we offer? If someone asks you for money that you don't have, could you take a little time and offer them some respect as you listen to their story? If asked to help with something beyond your skill set, could you refer them to a friend with those skills?
What do you have to offer, regardless of what is being openly asked? Could you offer to pray, sit with, talk to, cry with, share your lunch, make a call, give a ride, invite to church, share your faith, show some compassion, offer some hope...?
As you go about your day and you notice someone in need, instead of walking past, ask God, "What can I offer?" Then do that, give that, say that, whatever it is you do have, give it to him/her. Jus' Say'n.
No comments:
Post a Comment