giveyourwitness
Jonelle Maxwell
How many times have we come into contact with a person only to leave them in the same state they were before we met them?
Sometimes it just may be that we don’t have the necessary provision at that time to help. Or there may be times when we do have but refuse to assist for whatever reason. I say refuse because sometimes we operate from a place of selfishness instead of love. If truth be told, we all have been on either end of the stick. And sometimes, we have been on both. There are a number of reasons. Have you ever had such a need but no help in sight? Maybe you’ve reached out to a fellow sister or brother in Christ for help but you were turned away because of the hardness of their heart.
*But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [1 John 3:17]
*Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. [Proverbs 3:27]
How did that make you feel? Unfortunately, this is the case for many. Have our hearts become so callous as believers that we refuse to help others? I am not saying to give our all away, but surely we can find ways to help others that are in need. Yes, there are people that are not born again that are in need, however, the scriptures instruct us to help all men especially of the household of faith. Our household, those that are counted as our brothers and sisters should come first before those on the outside. How else will the world know we are Jesus disciples? It is revealed in how we treat one another. This is the first command we are given.
*As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
[Galatian 6:10]
*A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
[John 13:34]
Let’s take a look at Peter and John demonstrating love and faith that manifested into a miracle that led to a hand up and not a hand out.
Peter and John had come into contact with the man sitting at the gate of the temple while on their way to prayer. I am sure they have come in contact with the lame guy numerous times before, but today something was different. The lame man was not just sitting at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, but he was also asking for alms from those that was going into the temple. Peter and John could have been like the others and just walked by, but they decided to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. This was the last day the lame guy was going to be lame and begging. They did not give the guy what he was begging for. They gave the lame what was needed and that was a hand-up out of the situation he was in. This is an illustration when we allow the Holy Spirit to move through us to give people what they need the most. Men may give hand-outs, but when God is in it…He give a hand-up.
*Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So, he leaping up, and stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now as the lame man who was healed on to peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? Acts 3:1-12 NJKV
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