6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walk and go on walking!”
Acts 3:6
It really is not too difficult to see that our world often lives within the confines of a hand-out mentality. Many think that being blessed means getting others to give them what they desire to have, and often this same mind-set comes through in various other parts of their being.
Rather than looking at how those who are willing to help them reach their potential, they sit with their hands open wishing for others to do the work while they simply sit back and receive.
The greatest gift you and I can give those around us (apart from leading them to Christ) is helping them achieve their personal best, helping them realise exactly what they are able to do with their lives. As long as we keep on feeding their needs, taking out of our own pockets to give to them, we will never truly help them reach their personal best and they will always look to others to make a way for them.
Our Lord knew exactly what He was doing when he trained the twelve: everything He did was to help bring out the hidden potential that resided inside them. Rather than being their meal ticket, He pushed them to reach a place where they could see what they themselves were capable of.
As a result of Him getting them there, these same men were able to go out and do incredible things in the name of the Lord.
Reflect on our scripture verse for today, and you will see exactly what the disciples caught while walking with Jesus; something I think many of us need to catch. Rather than giving money to this beggar who has been sitting at the temple gates for years, Peter reaches out to him and begins to draw out this person’s ability to move on with his life. The added bonus – he receives salvation too!
How sad that many would rather have received money instead of their healing in our day. Having received his healing meant that he was now able to go out and make a living for himself, taking care and responsibility for his own life. Peter didn’t want him to remain in the same space for the rest of his life, but saw the potential within and helped him realise it.
We are not really helping those who live with a hand-out mentality by giving them what they ask for; all we are doing is taking care of a need they should be taking care of themselves. If you and I would help those around us realise their personal best in Christ Jesus, we would have done more than just meet an immediate need.
We sometimes wonder why God doesn’t simply let things fall into our laps. It is because He has placed within us the ability to go out and do incredible things. He sits and watches us as we struggle, waiting for us to recognise the potential that resides within
It’s time that we help those around us recognise their potential and the way God sees them.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father. Within me resides such incredible capabilities, things I myself am yet to discover. As I do life alongside others, help me recognise their potential and give me the wisdom as to how to draw it out of them. I pray this in Jesus mighty name. Amen.