Thursday... We think we know what to ask.

 

Acts 3:3 (NLT), "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money."

Thursday... We think we know what to ask.

We think we are so smart. We think we know what we need so that is what we ask for.

Now, we as Christ followers have this tremendous privilege to connect with God and in that time of connection we can ask of God. Now it is good for us to give thanks. Giving thanks is always a reminder that God is so good to us and that he is a great giver. And then we need to praise him. This is focusing on who he is and what he can do. Both of these help us in our faith so we can ask with confidence.

Now over in Acts 3 it says that Peter and John were going to the Temple to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. This was a part of the tradition before Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and then be resurrected. Now prayer is more than a tradition. It is a personal connection with God. It is such a privilege. And we think we know what to ask God for. We know what we need.

As they were coming in, just outside of the Temple there was this man who had been lame from birth and who was carried in to his place in order to ask for money so he could eat. And Acts 3:3 ((NLT) says, "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money." And that is a big part of our asking, isn't it? Money is so important to us, isn't it? That's why we work, that's why we have parents, haha! Of course we are always glad to help. So asking God for money is a major part of our prayer.

We think we know what to ask.

But this story doesn't stop there. Verses 4-6 says, "Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, 'Look at us!' The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, 'I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get us and walk!'"

I'm not sure what this man thought. Maybe, "But I asked for money."

Now it is important to know that Peter and John had been with Jesus all through his ministry, all the way up to his going up to heaven in a cloud. They saw what Jesus could do.

The last verse in John's book that he wrote of his time with Jesus, John 21:25 says, "Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would have been written." Yes they knew what he could do and they also knew that God wanted to use them to do unbelievable things so (vss. 7-8) "Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them."

Now that is the God we serve. There is so much he wants to do for us, with us and through us. Reading through the Bible we see so much that God wants to give us if we would only ask. Maybe we need to go a step further in our asking. Maybe God's plan for us is more than money.

Yes, there is so much he wants to do for us, with us and through us. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning