Today’s reading is Acts 3:1-4:37.

When Peter and John came to the temple at the hour of prayer, a lame beggar asked for alms. Peter responded, “Look at us.” The text then says the man fixed his attention on Peter and John thinking he would receive something from them. However, he didn’t. He received something from God. Peter explained that they had no money. However, “In the name of Jesus Christ, of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Acts 3:8-9 hold the key. Twice we are told the man was walking and praising God. He wasn’t praising Peter and John. He was praising God. Peter and John had focused his gaze away from themselves and on to God.

Then the crowds began to form. Notice Peter’s words: “Why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God ofour fathers glorified his servant Jesus…And his name–by faith in his name–has made this man strong whom you see and know…” He focused the crowd’s gaze upon God. 

In both cases, the people looked at Peter and John as if they would give or had given something. In both cases, Peter and John directed the people’s gaze toward God. He is the one that should be praised and worshiped. Peter and John were just men, vessels through whom God worked. That is all. 

This is true for us. We need to focus the gaze of those around us on God. Yes, we need to display our good works, but we should do so in a way that causes people to praise God, not us. When folks offer praise to us, we should certainly be humbly thankful, but we should acknowledge God’s work in our lives so that others may praise God as well.

***Question: How can we focus others’ gaze on God instead of ourselves?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. You don’t have to just answer the question. Please, share with us what you got out of today’s reading.