You're Never Empty Handed - test
We all find ourselves in situations where we know someone has a need that we don’t think we can meet. They may have even asked for our help, but we know that we don’t have enough to help them financially, or we can’t provide them with the job or the living situation that would solve their problem. But that doesn’t mean you’re empty-handed. You always have something to give.
In the book of Acts, Peter and John were passing through the temple gates in Jerusalem and saw a man who had been crippled from birth sitting there begging. As they past him, he asked them for money. It would have been easy for Peter and John to just ignore him and walk on. But even though they didn’t have any money that day, Peter realized he always had something to give as long as he had the power of the Most High God living in him. He looked straight at that man and said, “Silver and gold I don’t have, but I do have something, and His name is Jesus.” He reached out his hand and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” That crippled man jumped up and began walking and leaping and praising God, and all because Peter realized he was never empty-handed.
You may not have exactly what someone is asking you for, but do you have a hand you can lend? Do you have an encouraging word to put someone on their feet? Maybe it’s just your time. Sometimes time is more valuable than money. Perhaps your sister just needs an encouraging word. Does she need you to sit down for fifteen minutes and be a listening ear? Maybe she just needs you to nod and say, “Yes, you can do it.”
We are never empty-handed because we serve the Creator of the world. We need to have the abundant mentality of an extravagant giver because when we put what we have in the hands of Jesus, no matter how great or small, it makes a difference in people’s lives. It might be holding the door open for a stranger and saying hello. It might be giving a bold prayer for them in the name of Jesus. Just let your light shine, and you’re going to see miracles. You’re going to see relationships mended and new doors open.
Be an extravagant giver of what you have. Have the mentality that says, “I may not have exactly what you need today, but I have a prayer, I have a helping hand, I have an encouraging word, I have something I can do for you!”
In the book of Acts, Peter and John were passing through the temple gates in Jerusalem and saw a man who had been crippled from birth sitting there begging. As they past him, he asked them for money. It would have been easy for Peter and John to just ignore him and walk on. But even though they didn’t have any money that day, Peter realized he always had something to give as long as he had the power of the Most High God living in him. He looked straight at that man and said, “Silver and gold I don’t have, but I do have something, and His name is Jesus.” He reached out his hand and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” That crippled man jumped up and began walking and leaping and praising God, and all because Peter realized he was never empty-handed.
You may not have exactly what someone is asking you for, but do you have a hand you can lend? Do you have an encouraging word to put someone on their feet? Maybe it’s just your time. Sometimes time is more valuable than money. Perhaps your sister just needs an encouraging word. Does she need you to sit down for fifteen minutes and be a listening ear? Maybe she just needs you to nod and say, “Yes, you can do it.”
We are never empty-handed because we serve the Creator of the world. We need to have the abundant mentality of an extravagant giver because when we put what we have in the hands of Jesus, no matter how great or small, it makes a difference in people’s lives. It might be holding the door open for a stranger and saying hello. It might be giving a bold prayer for them in the name of Jesus. Just let your light shine, and you’re going to see miracles. You’re going to see relationships mended and new doors open.
Be an extravagant giver of what you have. Have the mentality that says, “I may not have exactly what you need today, but I have a prayer, I have a helping hand, I have an encouraging word, I have something I can do for you!”