DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FELT NEEDS AND REAL NEED

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – FELT NEEDS AND REAL NEED

"And a certain man lamed from his mother's was carried, whom they laid at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk.' " (Acts 3:2-6)

As Peter and John were making their way to the temple at the hour of prayer, they passed this man who was lame and was begging for money. When Peter and John stopped in front of him, he expected that they would give him some money to help him get through another day.

But Peter knew that his real need was not money but healing that would give him the ability to earn a living, and above that, introduction to the Person who would give him real life. The man did not need silver and gold, but something greater. So in the name of Jesus, Peter gave him what he really needed.

Every day, as we are traveling about our communities, we see people at the intersections or the parking lots who are asking for money. Some no doubt are truly in need, and many are just beggars. They all have their felt needs and beg for help. But their real need is greater than material help.

We are all beggars in a way. We all have needs, and we often look to other people to meet our needs, whether material, emotional, or physical. Those are felt needs. But the greatest need we have is spiritual, and only Jesus can meet that real need.

We need to be sensitive to people who are in need. But we need to discern what their real needs are. To meet their physical material needs without bringing them to the One who can meet their real need is to shortchange them. We can quote the scripture that "God shall supply all your needs," but the real need is spiritual.

Love, Dad