ACTS: A Way to Love

Thursday, April 7 ACTS: A Way to Live The Gospel of Luke—Lent 2022

Read Luke 18:35-42

Focus Verse—Luke 18:40

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

ACTion for Reflection: Stopping to Meet a Need

Why did Jesus stop for the blind beggar? There were plenty of people in the crowd who needed healing. What made this person stand out? We read that the blind man called out to Jesus. When people around him tried to hush him up, he shouted even louder, determined to get Jesus’ attention. Jesus heard him, but the real reason why Jesus stopped was because He has compassion for everyone who has a need, and this man’s need was very life-limiting. There were no schools back then to teach a blind person how to live independently. Rather, those who were blind were totally dependent on family, friends and strangers for their most basic needs. Plus, in many cases, they were treated as outcasts because the Jews believed that blindness was caused by sin—that the person or one of his parents must have sinned. Jesus’ heart went out to this man. He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he answered. Jesus immediately sensed his faith and healed him on the spot. As women of faith, our goal should be to become more like Jesus every day. Today’s scripture reminds us that this means we should have the heart of Jesus toward the individuals that God brings into our lives. If we are open to the Holy Spirit, He will let us sense their need and show us the best way to minister to them. Usually it’s just a small act of kindness or a word of encouragement...exactly the types of things we are doing in our ACTs - Sometimes it demands real sacrifice on our part. Either way, it is a joy to love others the way Jesus does—by expressing God’s love through action.

ACTion to Live Out:

An idea for today is to give someone, who the Lord leads you to, a box of candy hearts or chocolate hearts with the scripture message “Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right Spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. Or an encouraging verse like: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NASB).

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for teaching us how to live! After we daily reflect on your life-giving words, help us to then, through your Spirit, get up and ACT. Give us hearts of compassion, hands of generosity, and feet that take your good news to the world. What an honor it is to be your image bearer. Amen.

Audio of Luke 18: https://youtu.be/TD-TsE-P81Y