31 | Unraveled: The Suffering Servant | Kids Guide

Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way    

Read Acts 3:1-10  

Head

In Acts 3, Peter and John are just going about their daily lives when they are faced with a choice. They are on their way to the Temple to pray, but they get stopped by a crippled man begging for money. It would be easy for them to ignore him and keep going ahead as they intended. I mean, they have somewhere important to be, and they have something important to do, right? (And if they were anything like me, they might have even been running a little late!)   

However, while it is true that they were on their way to doing something important, they realized that there was something else they needed to do that was just as important. Peter and John stopped, looked the man in the eyes, showed mercy on him, and gave him what they had to offer. The man asked for money, but he received healing. Peter and John recognized that this man spent his entire adult life begging other people for money because he was crippled and couldn’t work. Instead of ignoring him and continuing on their way or telling him they didn’t have any money to give him, they did something for this man that he never even thought to ask of them.  

Heart

All too often, I find myself being “too busy” to truly see the people around me who have needs I can fulfill. Like Peter and John, I may not always have money to offer those in need, but I do have something to give. Sometimes, all people really need is someone to see them and offer a kind word. Maybe if I weren’t so focused on looking ahead to where I was going or what was coming next, I would be more receptive to God showing me the people and things surrounding me in each moment that need my attention. This idea makes me question just how different this crippled man’s life would have been if Peter and John had not first seen him and then stopped what they were doing to help in a way that only they could. 

Hands

Ask God to help you really see the people around you. Is there a need you’re able to meet? Can you offer someone a kind word? How about a special prayer for someone and their specific circumstances? Perhaps God is telling you to go a little further and provide help for someone with a physical need like money or a particular item. Set a goal to see and meet a need this week!  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we love You. Help us to see the people You have placed around us and the things they may need. Thank You for giving us the ability to help others. Thank You for helping us in our time of need. We love You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.