ACE #109: Look at God

When God does something unexpected or surprising, we often use the term, "Look at God!"  The emphasis is on the word, "God" because He, after all, has done this act.  But let's change where the emphasis goes and say, "Look at God!"  It requires us to move to action and to actually focus our attention on God.

In the story where Peter and John encounter a beggar who is lame, the beggar's attention was focused on his immediate need for money (and not necessarily his need to walk).  When Peter told the beggar to "Look at us!" he refocused the beggar's attention, and the beggar shifted his "vision" into a place of expectancy. 

I believe part of the reason many of us don't get what we think we want is because we are not "looking" or are not focusing our attention in the right places.  The other reason is because we do not really expect a lifelong miracle, we just expect an immediate breakthrough. 

This story taught me that while I know God is always looking at me, that every now and then maybe He wants to make sure I am actually looking at Him.

Acts 3:1-10

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 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!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

 

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