Give Us Eyes to See

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple, who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” —Acts 3:1–4, NKJV

When reading Acts 3, we could just skim right by and get straight to the good part, where Peter heals the lame man. I have always loved this story, but there is something awesome to consider in just the first four verses. Until recently, I had not seen it, which is ironic because it is the whole point of the story! Peter, the unconverted Peter, the Peter not yet filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Peter who had walked with Jesus for three years without getting what the kingdom of God was all about, had now gotten it! The old Peter would not have noticed the lame beggar. He and John were focused on going to the temple to pray.

The prayer time, the ninth hour, or three o’clock in the afternoon, was one of the three times of daily prayer when Jews would come to the temple, say their prayers, and leave. That was Peter and John’s mission. But now, Jesus had gotten through to them.

His mission was ultimately people. Prayer was a means to an end—to love Him and love people. Prayer is the power that changes hearts so we can help people experience the power of God! So Peter finally got it, and his life and character became beautiful through being transformed by the gospel message. He could now see! Instead of walking by without ever noticing the lame beggar, Peter saw him. He saw him and then fixed his eyes on him and got his attention. Peter saw through the eyes of Jesus because he had been with Jesus and was now filled with His Spirit. How often do we pass people by and never really see them? How often are we blinded to the most important thing—people? But we have the same access to the Holy Spirit that Peter had. We have the same opportunity to walk with Christ daily.

We can see like Jesus, help like Jesus, and live out His mission every day as He opens our hearts and minds to really SEE. Dear Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can truly see others.

Lee Lee Dart