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Helping others
The Bible says, ‘Peter said, “Look at us…Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong’ (vv.4-7 NIV). There are three things that Peter did that we can also do if we want to help others: 1) Get their attention. Peter told this man, ‘Look at us’ (v.4 NIV). Hurting people are often so distracted by their pain, their past experiences, and their future fears, that in order to be able to help them we have to get their attention. Sometimes people are so caught up in their problems that they don’t even know they need help. 2) Introduce them to the name that’s greater than their problem. That name is ‘Jesus’, and it’s greater than every sickness and situation. The Bible says: ‘At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth’ (Philippians 2:10 NIV). So we need to be introducing those who are hurting to Jesus. We can’t fix their situations, but Jesus can. It’s not up to us to make everything right; sometimes all we can do is point them to Jesus. 3) Help them up. ‘Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong’ (Acts 3:7 NIV). Because he’d been in the same condition for a long time, he needed help to get up. And there are people around us who need help to get up too. They need someone to pull them out of their despair and get them to Jesus, and God can use us to be that someone.
What Now?
Next time you’re helping someone, try and point them to Jesus rather than trying to fix their situation by yourself.
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