Wednesday: Why Do You Stare at Us?
WEEK 24
WEDNESDAY
WHY DO YOU STARE AT US?
Ephesians 4:7-10
If the disciples had been given the modern advice to discover their own resources, they would have been out of the running. They had no resources. Thrown upon their own resources, they had to say, “Why couldn’t we throw the demon out?” (Matt 17:19). When the pressure of adverse circumstances came upon them, one betrayed him, another denied him with an oath, and they all forsook him and fled. And even after the resurrection they were behind closed doors in fear. Discover their inner resources? They would have discovered only their own selfishness and impotence and fear. The modern advice would have left them cold.
But when they didn’t have to turn to themselves but to this Risen Jesus—who promised them adequacy within in the coming of the Holy Spirit—that was different. It opened a door, upward. Anyone could enter a door of grace. They didn’t have to be worthy or specially endowed or even good, just willing and receptive and obedient. Then infinite power was at their disposal.
Then the very thing that modern advice suggests did happen. They did discover their inner resources; they did find a plus added to all they were and did. But the resources were from God within and not within themselves minus God. Had they discovered and developed their own inner resources, they would have looked on themselves as seven-day spiritual wonders; and others would have done the same. And the whole thing would have resulted in spiritual pride, the most deadly of spiritual maladies. Now they could say with the grace-filled Peter, “Why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? . . . And his name, by faith in his name . . . the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:12, 16 RSV). Note the emphatic repetition: “his name, by faith in his name . . . the faith which is through Jesus.” Their eyes and their emphasis were on Jesus, not on themselves. That put them, not on pedestals, but on their knees. It all issued, not in pride, but in power. God had men and women humbly receptive, therefore usable. They didn’t specialize in dispensing miracles; they were miracles of grace!
O Lord, I thank you that even a little child can open her or his hands and take a gift. Help me to be as simple as a child and therefore wiser than the wisest. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: When people think of me, they shall think of grace; for I shall live as a miracle of grace.