It is said that what we look for in life, in a measure we find and experience! We may look for the good with a positive slant or see the worst brimming with negativity. In this insight I want to contrast the actions of a certain woman and man and consider how we react to life situations with our own expectations and outcomes.
A certain woman
A story is told about a woman who, whilst in her own home, was sitting in the front room and looking intently out of the window observing the people passing by. A family member asked the woman, “What are you doing and what do you see?” The woman replied, “I am panning for gold. I am looking for the smiles, the shared love, the happiness and natural joy that people carry whilst walking by.”
The woman’s action compares to the work of a prospector searching for gold who has to shift mountains of ordinary soil before finding a small nugget of gold. The gold has value, it is precious and can be sold for monetary gain. The woman in the midst of the ordinariness of life was searching for those nuggets of gold that had worth and value to lighten up her day.
A certain man
In the book of Acts chapter 3 and from verses 1 – 16, we read of a ‘certain man,’ who because of his disability, had to beg for money to sustain a living and existence. The disciples Peter and John were attending the temple at three o’clock, which was one of the set times to gather for prayer.
In the culture of the day it was a custom that beggars sat at the entrance of a temple or shrine as people attending would be more inclined to show practical generosity. The man was carried each day by his friends to the entrance of the temple known as the Beautiful gate.
When he saw the disciples he asked them for a gift of money and the response he got was quite unexpected. Peter said to him, “we have no silver or gold to give you but what we do have to share and offer is a gift of physical healing, in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.” The man jumped up with joy and walked into the temple praising God for what had just happened to him.
A certain reaction
There is always a reaction when a miracle or presence of God unexpectantly takes place. The people in the temple were filled with wonder and amazement to see the man and praised God for the healing he had experienced. However, Peter took the opportunity to remind them that it wasn’t by their own power that the man had been healed but the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Any glory for the man’s healing goes to Jesus, who had been rejected as the Messiah and sent to die on the cross in the place of a murderer.
A certain faith and nugget of gold
During this time leading up to Easter and amidst all the challenge and changes due to COVID-19, I wonder what you are seeing and feeling? In the midst of turbulence, are you experiencing an inner peace and comfort from your family, friends and faith or full of fear, panic and despair?
The woman at the window observed the joys and sadness’s that people carried whilst passing by. Many shared a smile whilst others held their heads low similar to that of the ‘certain man.’
The man was grateful for his faithful friends and looked to the disciples for money to feed his physical need. How surprised he was to find he had received more than gold or silver and his gift was to be able to walk again.
Many people today, with or without realising it, ‘beg for silver and gold’ and are willing to sacrifice faith, morals and human kindness to attain it.
However, God in his mercy sees us begging and wants to bring a beautiful change to our lives that incorporates faith, healing, restoration and the ability to walk again. During this time of Easter may we praise God for all His goodness to us as we witness the power of the crucified and resurrected Jesus to many amazed unbelievers.
Proverbs 3 v 9 – 18 brings to our attention that as we look out from the window of life and see wisdom, we will find that it is greater than valuable jewels. It will bring to us a long and good life, providing riches, honour, pleasure and peace. Proverbs 16 v 16 instructs us that ‘it is much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight than silver.’
Selah (pause to think calmly on what has just been read)
Graham
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