08/09/2017
Give Them The Unexpected”
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer- Now a man crippled from birth was put there everyday to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the hand, he helped him up….Act 3:2-7
We know this story very well with its almost musical chorus of “silver and gold have I none.” But one of the many things that I draw from these verses is that the beggar was looking to Peter and John expectantly. When Peter said “Look at us!” He had his undivided attention. Now, what the beggar got from them was certainly not what he expected. He was hoping for, yes longing for, a temporary fix. Something to keep him going for one more day. What he received was complete healing and restoration.
People often look to us in expectation. They may not know what they want or even need from us but they expect something. Let us have the courage and faith Peter and John had in the above verses. Let’s not just give them what could and would only take care of the minimal need. Let’s go out of our way to exceed their expectations. To blow their minds if you will. God can and will do big things for his people if we only have the faith to reach down and pull one another up. Don’t just give them what they want-Give them what they need!
Gregory Wilhite