August 2012

13 Aug Devotional Thought – Remembering The Unknown

"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." Acts 3:2 We're not told. Luke does not give us the names of those who carried this man who had been lame from birth and laid him every day at the Beautiful Gate.  All that we're told is that Peter and John found him and healed him where "they" had placed him.  That is both interesting and encouraging.  The main participants in this soul-stirring scene are the nameless men who brought him there that day.  Isn't that the way it is so many times?  Those who do so much to bring the lame to the place of healing and help are nameless, known only to God?  Haven't we all been carried along in our lives by unknown, obscure hands?  And when we pass through those beautiful gates do we stop to remember the debt that we owe to the unknown?  What about those, who like the angel Jacob met, bless us but refuse to give their names?  What about the fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers - strangers even - who helped us in those needed hours and days?

06 Aug Devotional Thought – Asking In The Name Of Jesus

"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive . . ."  John 16:24. Jesus is seeking the development of His disciples, and the place that He looks to perceive it is in the progress of their prayers.  The amazing thing, at least from our  human point of view is where in the prayer He looks.  Jesus doesn't look at their invocation, but at their motivation.  He doesn't look to see what they ask for, but rather why that ask for it, and He measures their prayers accordingly.