Focus on the things above through faith in Jesus Christ.

Key Scripture: Acts 3

Key Verses: Verse 4-8 and 16.

There was a period in my life when I had a lot of financial difficulties. One blessed day I had to participate in an activity organised by the church I attend. After this  activity, I noticed I had just 500FCFA ( about $ 1) in my purse,  which I had to use as transport fare to go home. At that point I was worried of how the days ahead will look like for me. That was a Friday and I had to be in church on Saturday  and Sunday for service but I knew it was surely impossible without having my transport fare. Nevertheless, I believed I will attend all these church activities and other professional activities during the week. I started thinking of how I will get money to take care of my transport fare during the week. Behold before I got home, I received a message from someone about a huge sum of money she had sent to me. The money sent did not only take care of my transportation but other needs I had at that time. I thought I needed just some money for my transport fare but God knew I needed more and He provided more than I even thought of. Through this I perceived Divine Providence.

In Acts 3, Peter and John were going to pray at the temple where they met a man who was lame from birth. This crippled man always sat at that gate to beg. So when he saw Peter and John, he begged for money. To this man money was probably something physical/ tangible which he could see and touch and he surely thought that was what he needed for a better life. True money nowadays is the main medium of exchange and it seems without money, it’s impossible to get once needs. Interestingly, when Peter and John looked at the crippled man who expected them to give him money, Peter said he had no silver or Gold to give the man but Peter said “I’ll give you what I have…” Now what did Peter have? Peter had Jesus Christ. Peter said to the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk!”  Peter held the crippled man’s hands, the man was completely healed and the man went, walking, leaping and praising God.

Peter had faith in Jesus Christ and focused on Jesus Christ while the crippled man focused on the physical things he could see like money. This crippled man focused on money but Peter knew this man needed to focus on Jesus Christ (who better understands the man’s needs). This man was crippled from birth and apparently was conversant with living crippled. So he surely did not even know he needed to walk more than he needed money. Peter introduced Jesus Christ and redirected the focus of the crippled man to Jesus Christ who could supply his needs far beyond what he expected.

God is a Faithful God and when He says seek first the kingdom of God and He will provide your needs, He means His words (Matthew 6:33). This is a call  for us to focus on the things above and God will provide the things we need because interestingly God knows our needs more than we do. But it takes FAITH in God through Jesus Christ to be able to focus on the things above. Faith is the reality of what we hope for and the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). Peter worked in Faith by focusing on Jesus Christ, introducing the crippled man to Jesus and healing the man through the power of Jesus Christ. On his path, the crippled man acted in Faith by accepting to hold Peter’s hand, standing up to walk and leaping in praise of God who healed him. Onlookers were amazed how the crippled man could walk and Peter told them…”Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed-and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name had healed him before your eyes.”(Acts 3:16 NLT).

Our Faith in God will help us focus on Him. God knows our needs even more than we do and He will provide for them exceedingly above what we think or ask.  Wondering what to to about that  crippled situation in your life?  Focus on God! Believe and have faith in God.  Studying and meditating on God’s word daily, praying and spending quiet times with God often, fellowshiping with other Christians will also help us grow in faith.

Remember God’s love for us never ceases and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). HE REMAINS A FAITHFUL GOD. Just focus on the things above through faith in Jesus Christ.