You’ve turned my friends against me.
You made them hate me.
I’m a shut-in now,
And I can’t go out anymore.
The light is going out in my eyes.
I’ve been calling you every day, LORD.
I’ve lifted my hands reaching out to you.
ACTS 3:2 (GNT)
There at the Beautiful Gate, as it was called, was a man who had been lame all his life. Every day he was carried to the gate to beg for money from the people who were going into the Temple.
THE ESSENCE
In God's economy, beggars get noticed.
DAILY FODDER
In our modern Western society, people are naturally suspicious of beggars. We assume they are somehow scamming the system or that by paying them attention, we’ll further encourage them to live unproductive lives. How do you get past these prejudices to reach out to the desperate?
PRAYER
Lord God, I call out to you. Sometimes, I feel helpless and handicapped, hapless and hopeless. Sorrow fills me as if there is no escape. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer. Take control. Overcome my circumstances. Show the way. Today, empower me to bring others to the "Beautiful gate" where you help and heal. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)
THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
so that everything that happens here will align
with what is happening in heaven.
Our Father in Heaven,
we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
so that everything that happens here will align
with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.
and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.
