Acts Chapter 3 verse 4 – 10 says:
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter and John were going to the temple to pray, but along the way an opportunity arose for them to famously encounter a young man with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Often we believe we don’t have time to “witness”, or we are not good evangelists and so we leave the great commission to others. But from this account we can learn much about HOW you and I can impact the world like Peter and John did with the man at the Gate Beautiful.
“Look at us” verse 4 – In a busy world, there are countless voices competing for attention. But, like Peter and John, believers today need to grab the attention of the world decisively and boldly. Why? Because we have good news to tell!
“Expecting to receive something” verse 5 – The world has an expectation about the church; you need to give me something. It might not be an unreasonable expectation, even when what we offer might not be what they are expecting.
“…But what I do have I give to you” verse 6 – You can only give what you’ve got. What we’ve got is the miracle working, life transforming, power of Jesus within us!
“…he took him by the right hand and raised him up” verse 7 – Often for people to receive Jesus they need a hand up. The outcome of a life transformed by God is dancing, leaping and praising God. But to get there, it takes a step of faith; an attempt to stand after sitting for so long.
“…and they were filled with wonder and amazement” verse 10 – The result of faith and power of God uniting together is a miracle that leaves crowds of people in awe and amazement. “What happened to him?” “GOD happened to Him!!”
So may it be with you and I as we venture into the world this week, in the power of the Holy Spirit!
PRAYER: Father, thank you for your word. May it transform my thinking and expectation of you in my life. Not just for my benefit, but for the benefit of the world around me. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
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