Thought for Friday, February 15th

February 15, 2013

And the Recipient Is

Which is the greater goal for which to aim – to make a living or to make a life?

  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: 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 ancle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:1-8

“From what we get, we can make a living, what we give, however, makes a life.”

-       Arthur Ashe

Often, we don’t feel like we have much to give to a situation, circumstance or ministry: so we sit on the sidelines and don’t get involved.

Yet, as Christians we all have the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit within us and we can always offer the world the Jesus that we have, because there is no limit to the resource He is in our lives.

But what does it mean for us to give Jesus?

Isn’t it simply, loving, caring, reaching out and making a difference?

It could be as simple as sharing a smile or listening to a heart: or as intense as engaging in some physical labor to help accomplish a task that needs to be done.  It can be promising to pray and then remembering to do it; or it could be giving a ride or sharing some food.

Giving Jesus doesn’t have to be evidenced as demonstratively as it was in the passage above with Peter: but when we really give Jesus and all the love that is connected with Him: those who receive should be left feeling the need to praise Him.

Today’s Prayer

Father, may I be the agent that causes more people to actively go around praising you.