Waypoints 3/3

Pray:
“Father, we pause from our busy day to cast all of our attention onto You. Speak to us through Your Word. Let it shape our minds in how we think, our hearts in what we love, and ultimately, our hands in what we do. Amen.”

Read Acts 5:12-16.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
With the growing opposition from the religious leaders, the people are intrigued by the church but still remain standoffish. They want to see the things that are coming out of the life of the church. They want to see the wonders, but they don’t want to get too close if things take a turn for the worse.
Notice here who does dare to draw closer to the church. Who is it? It’s the sick and the broken. They are brought to the apostles so that they might be healed.
There is something wonderful about the picture of the sick and broken being carried to the church to be made whole. So often those who are broken and lost feel the church is the last place they want to go. Some of that might be their own misconceptions of the church. Perhaps, they were hurt by the church. What if the church was not a place they might go but the place they want to go?
I don’t think anyone in our church would claim the power to heal, especially by just their shadow, but at the least, we have resources that can bless those who are sick, alone, and hurting. We can minister to needs and be vessels through which Jesus’ love becomes tangible. In this way, the church can be a faithful witness for Christ in the world.
Jesus met people’s needs. We must continue to be diligent in seeking to do the same. We must pray for and strive to make the church a space where the broken are both welcomed and drawn to our life. The love and Good News of Christ can bring healing to humanity’s worst ills.

Praying Together:
“Jesus, it is a privilege to be a church that seeks to minister to the needs of people. Work through us that the sick and broken who come to us might find healing in the ways they need it most. Most importantly, may You find them in the midst of their searching. You are the greatest gift. Amen.”