See, Serve, Share

"Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money." Acts 3: 1-3 NLT

This past Sunday, we had missionaries speak at church. They are going to Europe to tell people about Jesus.

His message was about "See, Serve, Share" and his Scripture reference was Acts 3: 1-11.

I have written on this Scripture before, because I thought the name "Beautiful" for the gate the beggar was sitting at was very interesting.

This time, something else jumped out at me about this story.

The missionary's three points were:

1. See the need. Don't just look AT people, SEE them.
2. Serve the forgotten. So many people are not loved on because we've forgotten them.
3. Share the hope of Jesus. God loves them too, and we need to tell them that.

This story in Acts is really cool to me, because Peter and John were going to the temple to pray at 3pm, which was their third time of prayer for the day. (I hope I pray that much or more during the day.)

I'm sure they had seen this guy before.. since it says "each day he was placed at the gate". 

It was this time that they actually SAW him.

The BIG thing I find interesting is that the beggar was NOT asking to be healed. The Scripture said he was lame from birth. I guess he didn't know that God could heal him...so he just decided to live his life begging for money from others.

This reminds me that God will heal people, even if they don't ask, because sometimes, someone else is asking for them!

Do you let fear hold you back from helping others or even praying for them?

It happens to the best of us. Fear is not something God has given us though. Remember, in 2 Timothy, we are told that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self discipline. 

We need to pay attention to the people we come in contact with on a daily basis. That person at your work might need prayer. Someone at lunch could be down and an encouraging word would lift their spirit.

See people. Really see them, for who they are... dearly loved children of God.

And, if you will, add the Miller family to your prayer list. They have a website you can go to as well, http://www.withthemillers.org/

God bless you today and always!