Acts 3:1-10

The other day I was checking out the new website design of the Utica Rescue Mission and I came accross the page giving some tips as to how someone could help a homeless person.  The tips, as it turns out, contained some good advice such as:

• Never give cash to a homeless person
• Tak to the person with respect
• Share God’s love…
• Take precautions for your own safety

There were more than that but my point is that often times when someone is confronted with a homeless person, the temptation is to ignor them, judge them, or be confused as to how to help.

Anyways, as I read the bullets, the Lord reminded me of the confrontation in Acts chapter 3 where Peter and John came accross a beggar asking for money.  I’ve done junior church lessons and sermons on this passage but while reading it this time, the Lord reminded me that we are to do the same thing.  Now I know that we may not be able to heal all of the hurts in people’s lives, but we can reach out and share God’s love!

Notice in verse 2 that the man was asking alms which means he was looking for money.  Could he have used money?  I’m sure.  However, the money would be a short term answer to his problems.  God wanted something for the man that would change him forever!  God wanted to touch Him.

So how do we reach out and touch someone?  First, we need to not ignor the needy (verse 4).  Next, we need to look beyond the immediate answers and seek to meet the real needs (verse 6).

I love this passage because of the outcome!  Many of us want to go out and share Christ with others, knock on doors and share the Gospel message.  What a great thing to want to do.  Notice that Peter had the opportunity to share the Gospel, but not until after reaching out and touching the man.

Basically my point is, we can tell people until we are blue in the face that we care about their eternal destiny BUT if we can’t SHOW that we care, the message may just fall on deaf ears.

This business of touching others is not an easy one!  When the numbers on the church bus are down, it certainly is a lot easier in the Sunday School classes, but when we go out and be with the people, and seek out their needs and try to meet them, the opportunities to change lives abound!

Fullfilling the Great Commission is not as easy as it seems, but the blessings are certainly worth the effort!  Don’t just preach, but reach out and touch someone with the love of God today!

Reach THEN Preach!

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