Reflections: Look up!

This week’s “Reflections” is by Pastor Liz Wright. She serves as Connections Pastor at Central Assembly of God in Springfield, where she also coordinates women’s ministry and other special events. This post, used by permission, is from her weekly email newsletter, “The Balancing Act,” which encourages Christian community as we juggle family, work and other responsibilities. Thank you, Pastor Liz! 

-Cindy 

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”                                                                          Acts 3:1-4 NIV

Look at us. I’ve always been struck by these three words when reading through Acts 3. These simple words completely change the context and the consequence of this event. 

I imagine the man lame from birth, helpless, desperate and most likely ashamed of his condition. I can see him sitting at the gate (after having to be carried there) with his head down and his soul downcast. Lame from birth, how many times had he sat there, humbled himself and begged from those going into the temple courts? How many times had he wished he was able to walk into the temple courts to worship rather than be carried there to receive alms? How many times had people passed by, dropped in a few coins and continued on? How many times had people just ignored him? I imagine that this daily occurrence had not only become routine, but quite possibly discouraging and defeating.

And then he hears the words, “Look at us.” 

Eye contact conveys value. It takes intentionality. It forms a connection between people. Not only did Peter and John stop and take notice of him, they stopped and valued him enough to look straight at them and then invited him to do the same. Before the Lord used Peter and John to heal the man’s physical ailment, He called them to see and heal his emotional ailment. Peter and John communicated worthiness to this man before anything about him changed. 

It causes me to pause and ponder…

• How often do I look past someone that the Lord is calling me to look straight at?

• How often do I hurry through my daily To Do’s and miss someone that needs an extra bit of encouragement? 

• How often do I miss an invitation from the Lord to convey value to someone who is struggling with discouragement and defeat?    

It also causes me to pause and ponder the incredible love and attention of The Father. He sees each of us right where we are and chooses to extend his goodness and mercy to His children. Sometimes He uses us to convey value to others, and sometimes He uses others to remind us of our value. 

Look to Him.

In all things and each day, let us look to Him, our Creator and value-giver.  

Connect with Pastor Liz via the Central Assembly website, www.centralassembly.org, and if you’re in the Springfield area, check out their women’s events, outreach and prayer fellowship opportunities.