Where is Your Gaze?

Where is Your Gaze?

Missy Grant

“But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene---walk!” Acts 3:4-5.

In my morning time with the Lord a few weeks ago I was struck anew with the scripture story related in Acts 3. The background to this scripture is a lame man was taken to the East Gate (Gate Beautiful) of the Temple each and every day. The purpose for this lame man was to beg money off of those entering the temple. Little did he know the encounter he was about to have with two of Christ’s strong ones, Peter and John. There are several points of interest in the scripture worth studying, but today I would like to encourage you with just a couple of thoughts.

Where is your gaze? Did you notice the first thing Peter said? He said, “Look at us!” Why did he do that? Why is it so important to actually look at what we are to be focusing on? A teacher will tell you she knows her students are fully engaged when she has eye contact with each of them. A counselor will tell you they can discern the depth of a clients struggles by the lack or intensity of eye contact. Beth Moore makes the point that where your gaze is directly affects what you are hearing….! Aahhh…there it is. The crux of it. Peter had something very important to say to the lame man. He didn’t start to speak to the man until he was assured the man was giving him the attention needed for what Peter was about to do. Peter needed the man to LISTEN.

The second point of interest is the line which says, “…expecting to receive something…” I have been studying verbs in scripture recently. It is an interesting activity to engage in. In Hebrews 11, I noticed the verbs primarily line up in two columns - those action words of doing something and those action words of receiving something. The lame man of the above scripture had two actions to take (well three if you include the walking bit…!). He had to turn his gaze on Peter (look at him), but he needed to do it with an expectant heart. Ouch…for those of us who don’t receive so well, that is a hard one.

Where do you find yourself this morning? Are you looking to the Lord our God – not just a mere glance, but looking him fully in the face? Have you seen the movie Prince Caspian, yet? Two memorable lines are: (Lucy and Aslan speaking to each other) Aslan says, “Lucy, why then did you stop looking for me?” Lucy replies out of humility…”I’m sorry.” Peter and Lucy are speaking earlier and Peter says to her with a contrite heart, “Why didn’t He show Himself to me?” Lucy replies, “Maybe because you weren’t looking for Him.” Whew….where is your gaze today? Are you expectantly looking at Him? Is your heart in a place to receive His reply of grace….?

Lord God Almighty, forgive us for our wandering eyes and ears. Let us never stop looking to you with our full attention. When we wander and start asking the question, “…why didn’t He show Himself to me?” gently remind us of our need to seek you. You are worthy of praise. Amen.