A commentary on Acts 3: 1-10.
As a child, I learnt the art of understand certain 'looks' my mum gave my brothers and I when we were in public and she did not want to voice out her reaction.
The looks varied, depending on the severity of our behaviour. Sometimes, you could sense that she was annoyed and other times, you could tell that you were in trouble whenever we got back home.
When people look at you, what do they see? Do they see a person who cares for them or do they see someone who is focused on self?
One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray. As they got the the template gate called beautiful, they saw a man who was lame from birth. Every day, he would be carried by others to this gate so he could beg for money from those going into the temple. (Acts 3:4)
Having done this for so long, this beggar had learnt the art of looking at and studying people's faces to deduce whether they were compassionate enough to give him money or not. When he saw Peter and John, something stirred inside him. Having convinced himself that these men looked like they cared, he asked them for money. When Peter and John stopped and said "Look at us!", then man gave them his full attention, thinking, "I knew it! These men care! I am sure to get something from them".
When Peter uttered the phrase, "Silver or gold I do not have", I can imagine the man thinking, "If you do not have anything to give me, why are you wasting my time while other potential givers were streaming by?".
I can just imagine him stretching his neck to see who was coming behind the two Apostles until Peter uttered the next phrase, "but what I do have I give you." This must have got the man's attention again. "Oh, so they do have something to give after all. Could it be food or clothes?" What they have to offer was revealed in the next phrase, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
When Peter took the man's hands and helped him up, I can just imagine the man's mind going wild, "This is crazy! How can I walk when I have never walked since I was born?" When he became instantly healed, he didn't just stand up like many of us would do when we have been sitting down for a while, he jumped to his feet!
Before this man saw Peter and John, they saw him and they had compassion on him. Although he saw them and begged them for money, he did not expect anything other than enough money to live on for that day. Little did he expect that what the Apostles had to give him was a life-changing gift that would not only end his life of begging but will also transform him spiritually.
As Christians, God is looking at us with compassion in His eyes. Many times we approach him asking for things that we think is enough to satisfy us but He has so much more in store! All He asks is that we look to Him and understand what it is He wants to give us. He knows what we need much more that we do and desires to give us those gifts that will transform our lives as well as those around us.
If you are not a Christian, God's eyes of compassion is looking at you and desires that you will look at Jesus, who suffered and died for all mankind. He loves you and does not want you to perish in your sins.
Don't just look to God for what you think He will do, look to Him for what He desires to give to you and you will be amazed at the life transforming gift He will give to you.
Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the founder of the Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org. He lives in Kent, United Kingdom, where he works as an IT Professional. He currently serves as a Worship Leader as well as Home Group Leader in his local church and on occasion, speaks at invited events. He is the founder of the BiblepraiseFellowship Online Ministry and Moderator/Editor of the Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org
