Just Do Your Best
In Acts 3 Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer and a lame man had been left at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful” in order to beg from those who entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple he asked them to have pity on him. Peter replies, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Opportunities are everywhere.
It is far too typical for many of us to simply sit around waiting for God to “open a door” for us. When I was growing up my father would often tell me that there was always work to do all I had to do was look around and see it. As Christians this is just as true. We talk about creating opportunities or waiting for opportunities when the reality is those occasions to do good deeds are all around us. All we have to do is open our eyes to what is going on.
Jesus told his disciples “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” When we finally take the blinders of selfishness, pride, and laziness off we will be more aware of the physical and spiritual needs of others we encounter every day. So, when we become aware of these opportunities what do we do? Nothing great, just do your best:
- Do What You Can: In our text Peter tells the man that he has no money to give but what he did have that he would give. Too often we only see what we can’t do and not what we can. Sometimes we feel that if we can’t do something great what little we may contribute is meaningless. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Few are able to do anything great, but God can do great things through us. Just do what you can and stop making excuses.
- Where You Are: Notice that Peter and John were going into the temple to pray. They were just going about their daily lives. They didn’t have to be sent on some great mission trip or to embark on the most popular new program. They just had to open their eyes to what was going on around them where they were. Where is the best place for you and I to be in order to serve God and others? Where we are right now!
- With What You Have: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:” God blesses each of us with physical, financial, and spiritual blessings. We all have something to contribute and God expects us to be good stewards of what He has given us. In fact, our eternal destiny depends on our faithful stewardship of those blessings. How each of us should long to hear those beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23).
In Acts 3 Peter takes the man by the hand, lifts him up and immediately “his feet and ankle bones received strength.” He stood up and walked and entered the temple with them “walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.” God can do great things through you and I today if we just do our best, where we are, with what we have!