Come Close to the Beautiful

Today's Reading: Acts 3:1-10

I have been studying Acts in the last few months. Looking at my notes from the day I studied this exact text was cool to see what I learned from reading and studying these verses. I do my studying as a type of journal where I read the text and then answer these three questions: what does it say?, what does it mean?, and what does it mean to me? Allow me to share some of those thoughts with you today. 

This is the story of Peter and John going to the Temple to pray. As they passed the gate called Beautiful, they saw a crippled man who asked them for money. Peter and John's first words to him in verse 4 were, "Look at us!" 

This crippled man was lying at the gate called Beautiful. I think we have to get close to the Beautiful to ask for what we want. God desires to hear our voices. He wants us to tell Him the things on our hearts and to ask Him for the things we need and want. We can't talk to Him without drawing near to Him. Are you getting close or are you holding Him at arm's length?

This man asked outright for money. He didn't beat around the bush, he just laid it out there. We gotta be willing to lay it on the line with Father too. Yes, He already knows it. But He still wants to hear our hearts around it. He may or may not answer the way we want Him to, but we won't know if we don't ask. What is your heart's desire...and have you asked Him for it?

Peter and John then told the man to look at them. Clearly he had seen them because he spoke to them. But I envisioned this like I used to tell my children, "Look at my face!" when I really wanted them to pay attention. Peter and John had his answer, but they wanted his full attention when they gave it to him. Sometimes we just have to look the solution square in the face. Are you avoiding the solution God may be sending you today?

Peter and John go on to tell the man that they don't have money but they will give him what they do have. And right there in verse 6, they heal the man. He jumped up and praised God and all the people who saw him and knew his story praised God too.

You know when we ask God for something, we should expect to receive. The answer may not be what we were expecting. But it may be the very thing that makes us stronger. The crippled beggar was expecting money, but he got healed instead. So what are you expecting to receive? Will you accept God's answer if it is the thing that will make you stronger?

Finally, the people who saw this man running around praising God recognized him as the beggar from Beautiful, and they were amazed at what had happened to him. You know, once God works in our lives, we can walk away from our past. But I believe that God wants us to be just transparent enough that those pasts are somewhat recognizable in us. That way others can see the work God has done and praise His name too.

Come close to the Beautiful today and let Him do a healing work in you.

- Holly Barrett