Acts 3:1-8 (niv) 1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Daily Inspiring Thought: People need Jesus more than they need money. Jesus equals life.
Money does not.

Daily Reflection: Do you walk by beggers, drop money in their cup or hand, without
taking the time to speak to them & offer lasting help? Take the time
to share Jesus with them, not just your pocket change, because that
extra time can mean the differance between heaven or hell, for that
person.

We all pass beggers (sometimes the same ones) almost daily. Either or our way to work, or during our daily travels. We also assume that that person is lazy or there by choice. However, as the begger in the above scripture shows us, sometimes people are told all their life that they are nothing and will never amount to anything (which cripples a person to become who God says they are), so they feel all they can do is go beg (sit down and take whatever people give them). However, Peter & John were the first ones to tell that begger otherwise. That he is somebody. That he does not have to settle. That in Christ Jesus is where his true life is. So get up and walk! You do not have to depend on others. Remember, there is a differance between poor and begging. A poor person has a job (or several) but needs help to provide food for their family (food stamps or food from donations, etc.). A begger usually (I know some cases are different) is capable of getting a job, but for some reason they choose not to. That is not one who God means for us to give money to. God says,..... if a man does not work, he shall not eat (2 Thess. 3:10).

I will admit that I have rarely took the time to stop and speak, all because I am too "busy". We sometimes feel that giving pocket change (a few dollars) completes our duty.....our "good deed" for the day. We somehow feel that God is pleased because we met a need by giving money so that person would possibly have a meal on that day. However, God is not pleased at all, because He said that, Man shall not live from bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). What we have to understand is this. Yes, Jesus met needs and we are to follow suit. However, after He healed and/or fed the people, Jesus never walked (or hurried, as many of us do as to not have to get caught up in a conversation, causing us to be late to our destination) away. Why? He knew His job was not complete. That even though he met that physical need, He knew He had to meet the most important need of all.....their soul!

We must take the time to remember it isn't about us. That we, as Jesus showed us, were placed here for a purpose.......GOD in heaven's business of saving souls (because He does not will that any should perish)! I believe alot a times, if we become better stewards (management of our time), we won't always be in "rush" mode. Remember this last final point. Before you knew Jesus, someone stopped and took the time to witness the Good News to, you. Amen.


Shannon E. Robinson
".......,fools hate knowledge"~Proverbs 1:22

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." ~JOHN 14:6