A Stumbler's Walk | NEED

"…I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you."

- Acts 3:6 

God doesn't ask of us what we don't have. It might be more accurate to say he doesn't require from us what he has not already given to us. And in an mysteriously incredible and divine way, he matches our gifts, talents and resources specifically to meet the needs of someone else.

On the other side of the equation, we often don't know what we really need. God has a way of sorting past our wants and addressing the deep need.

Two disciples are going about their day when they come across a man who had never walked a step in his life. The man asked them for money; as he did everyone on the way to the temple. It was what he knew. It was his life. It was what he thought he needed. 

He had a deeper need.

Peter and John didn't have any money that morning. What they had however, was what the man needed. "…in the name of Jesus… rise up and walk!"

He did.

Today, you and I will find ourselves on both sides of this equation. We will have the opportunity to be the touch of God to someone. It may require our looking past the surface. And we have needs that God will meet today, through the touch of someone else. It may require allowing them to look past our surface.

God will not ask of us what we don't have. But he will ask everything of us.

God, help me to meet a need today... God, I need…

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | STANDING

But Peter, standing…

- Acts 2:14 

Jesus words to Peter on the night of his betrayal and arrest: "… but when you have turned…"

This is Peter's turning.

Peter was acquainted with failure. He knew doubt; more in himself than anything else. He could be impetuous, brash and overbearing, He could be brave and gutless. He often spoke first and listened later. I think he was probably voted "disciple most likely to drop an F-bomb at an after church potluck." And the last time Peter was in a crowd, he failed. 

Worse, he betrayed.

"But when you have turned…" Peter finds himself in a crowd once again. It's much like the crowd that screamed, "Crucify him!" at Pilate a little over a month before, sending Jesus to the cross of death. Sweat runs down Peter's back. His hands tremble a bit. His knees are rubber. And then... strength!

"But Peter, standing…"

The first "sermon" preached in the era of this new thing called the church, was preached by a redeemed failure, a forgiven betrayer, a turned man. 

The sermon would not make it to air today. Not enough smiling; not enough "feel good about yourself." But a turned man, an empowered man spoke true words. People were changed and a movement was born.

"But Peter, standing…" I should note that Peter would fail again; in smaller ways. We all do. I am thankful the Bible doesn't gloss-over flaws. But standing for Jesus became habitual for Peter.

You? Me?

God, help me stand.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | TURN TOWARD

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

- Luke 23:42 

The man was nailed to a cross next to Jesus. 

He had not lived a lifestyle worthy of mention in the Bible to say the least. He was not a moral man. He was not a good man. 

We know him simply as Thief #2.

The man died that day. 

He died a brutal death - legs broken, flesh nailed to a rough piece of wood, hanging on display. But it was not the most significant thing that happened to him on his cross. 

Thief #2 was given life that day. He didn't adhere any religion that we know of. He didn't even pray the right prayer. He didn't hop down to be baptized, go to class, or do good works. He didn't follow the proper formulas or rituals.

He simply turned to Jesus.

Life begins with a simple turn to Jesus.

God, thank you for life in Jesus and help me every day to turn to you.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | TURN

And when you have turned again, 

strengthen your brothers.

- Luke 22:32

Jesus told Peter three things: 1) You have a target on your back and will falter; 2) I've prayed for you; 3) You are already forgiven, and you will (re)turn. When you do, you will be a rock to many.

God sees what we cannot. He knows what we do not. He is preparing us for his purposes. 

Swash this around in your brain:

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

- 1 Corinthians 2:9

You and I will fail at times. We will have moments of doubt and faithlessness. But that is not the end of our story. 

As in Peter's case, Jesus prays for us. (Take a quick look at Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25). His offer is not one of condemnation, but forgiveness. He has a future planned for us, and he is preparing us for that future.

"... and when you have turned..."

God, I turn to you.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | LOSTNESS

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

- Luke 19:10

Chapter 15: A lost sheep, a lost coin, a lost son.

Chapter 18: A wealthy and powerful, yet lost young man ("ruler").

Chapter 19: A crooked and conniving and lost little man. Three parables and two very real people, each of which is lost.

None of us likes to admit he or she is lost. Thanks to GPS and Google Maps men no longer have admit to it; at least in the geographical sense. (God wired the inability to ask directions into our - men's - DNA ). 

The lostness Jesus speaks of is much deeper. It is the lostness of the soul when separated from the God who created and loves.

It is because of this lostness that Jesus came. Jesus entered the world with a mission: To seek and save the lost. Lost beggars, lost tax-collectors, lost you and lost me.

Max Lucado wrote: 

If our greatest need had been information, 

God would have sent an educator. 

If our greatest need had been technology, 

God would have sent us a scientist. 

If our greatest need had been money, 

God would have sent us an economist. 

But since our greatest need was forgiveness, 

God sent us a Savior.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

"Amazing Grace... I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."

God, thank you for your amazing grace that turns my lostness into foundness. 

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | THE QUESTION

"What do you want me to do for you?"

- Luke 18:41

A blind beggar with no status, no means and no hope screams for Jesus' attention. He won't shut up, even though some who think they have the right, try to shut him up. He is making everyone uncomfortable. Everyone, that is, except Jesus.

Now the blind man stands in front of Jesus. He is asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" It seems obvious, doesn't it? (Paraphrasing now) "I want to see!" Jesus: "OK… see."

What if God asked you the question; "What do you want me to do for you?" How would you answer? Not genie-in-the-bottle stuff. Not lotteries and looks. What are your deep needs? What is your deepest need… hurt… desire?

Jesus again, "… your faith has made you well." 

We get a warped sense of faith from some celebrity preachers. The blind man's belief THAT he could see didn't give him sight. He could believe all day that he possessed sight; and still be blind. Biblical faith is not just belief. It is belief "IN". Belief in a person. His name is Jesus.

Notice that the (formerly) blind man, when hearing Jesus was approaching, "…cried out…," and then, "… cried out all the more..." (vv38,39) When deep need mixes with faith it cries out all the more. 

Chapter 18 begins, "And he (Jesus) told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." In other words, mix need and faith and cry out all the more.

What if God IS asking you this question? Right now! "What do you want me to do for you?" What will be your answer?

God, I'm blind, I want to see!

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | THE GOD WHO RUNS

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

- Luke 15:1

Ponder that statement. 

The worst of the worst were drawn to Jesus. Why? Because they were quietly aware of a nagging deep in their core. They were inadequate. They lacked.

Additionally, they had a hopeful sense that the one standing in front of them was the answer to their need. So they came. They came, and they listened, and they believed.

The establishment didn't like it. They couldn't understand Jesus' openness to the undeserving. More than that, they were offended by it and by him.

So Jesus tells three stories to describe God's heart. A sheep is lost. A coin is lost. A son is lost. Then each is found. And in each case, the finder throws a party and calls everyone around to join in.

The story of the lost son (better known as the Prodigal Son) has long been a favorite. I've always been impacted by the father's reaction; and how, against all cultural decorum he ran to his son. As a father I can understand it. But it is difficult for me to conceive that the God of the universe runs toward the lowly, the undeserving, the repentant. Toward me.

God, I run to you, will you please run to me…

For now...

D