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In that moment, I would have emptied my bank account to help this woman.
We had walked down a narrow alley, making twists and turns. Garbage littered the ground. Our guide led us to this little dwelling that looked like a small storage closet. We were invited to sit in the floor of her tiny “house”, if you can even call it that. It was no bigger than my bathroom.
Besides one tiny chair, a small, bare and stained mattress on the floor was the only option for seating. In the middle of the room sat a burner used for cooking. A few possessions were lying around, but little to speak of.
And I couldn’t. I couldn’t speak. This is where she called home?
She was a Syrian refugee in Jordan. The translator told her story of tragic loss. Her husband and child had gone to the market for her and she stayed home. A bomb was dropped on the market. The horrific details of the story are unbearable. They shared that the only way to identify her husband was a ring found on a severed finger.
She was alone.
She did all she could to provide for herself but was barely scraping by. She was in need of a heater for the winter and in that moment, I was ready to clear my bank accounts. Whatever I had, I wanted to help her. My heart was broken for this woman.
But I knew, money wouldn’t be enough. I had something even greater I wanted to share with her.
Acts 3:1-10
“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.”
What is more valuable than silver or gold? What is worth more than all the money in the world?
The gift of God.
Peter and John, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gave this man more than he asked for. He was begging for enough to get him through the day. But they offered him something that was far better.
As I sat with this Syrian woman, I told her how sorry I was about what happened to her and how my heart was broken for her. Through the translator, I shared that I wish I could change her circumstances, but I only had one thing I could share.
The love of Jesus.
My friends, if we want to be world changers, we must share Jesus.
He alone saves.
He loves us unconditionally.
He forgives our sins and redeems us.
He is the way, the truth and the life.
Jesus is the Lord and Savior.
When someone comes to salvation by trusting in the Lord, they will praise God, just as this crippled beggar did at the Gate called Beautiful.
We’ve all been there. At the gate. Begging for help. Maybe you’re there now. Jesus hears your cries. Call out to Him. He is ready and able to save you.
And if you have been saved, shout it!
Share with the world what the Lord has done! He has taken you from beggar to royalty in an instant!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Will you do that today?
Praise Him. Surrender to His will. Follow Him daily with your life. Not sure how?
If you want to know more about becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus, go to follow.lifeword.org.
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