Don't miss the opportunities

How many opportunities to minister to others have slipped through our fingers over the years? Perhaps we've looked at a situation and thought, "I don't have what they need" or "I'm not equipped for this." Yet some of the most powerful moments in Scripture reveal that God's work through us has little to do with what we possess and everything to do with our availability.

A Day at the Temple Gate
In Acts chapter 3, we encounter a remarkable story that illustrates this truth beautifully. Peter and John were heading to the temple at the ninth hour—3 PM—the time of evening prayer and sacrifice. Their hearts were already focused on worship, prepared to meet with God. This detail matters more than we might initially realize. When we approach our days with hearts oriented toward the Lord, we position ourselves to see opportunities we might otherwise miss.

At the temple gate called Beautiful sat a man who had never walked a single day in his life. Every day, someone carried him to this spot—the place with the highest foot traffic—where he would ask those passing by  for money. Imagine the weight of that existence. No welfare system. No disability benefits. Just complete dependence on the mercy of strangers, day after day.

The Jewish culture of that time viewed physical afflictions through a lens of judgment. Remember when Jesus' disciples encountered a blind man and asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" This beggar likely endured not just physical limitation but also the crushing weight of social stigma and religious condemnation.

The Power of Seeing People
When the lame man asked Peter and John for money, something different happened. They didn't avert their eyes and hurry past. Instead, Peter said, "Look at us."

Think about that moment. This man probably rarely made eye contact with anyone. Most people avoided his gaze, treating him as invisible. But when Peter and John stopped and asked him to look at them, hope stirred. He fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something.

Do we expect to receive from the Lord? When we gather for worship or open our Bibles, do we truly anticipate that God will speak specifically to us? This man's expectation teaches us something profound about faith—we must come ready to receive.

What We Have to Give
Peter's response has echoed through the centuries: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what
I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

Peter and John didn't focus on what they lacked. They focused on what they possessed—the power of Jesus' name and the leading of the Holy Spirit. They gave this man something far greater than money. They gave him a completely new life.

The miracle wasn't just physical healing. This man had never walked before, which means he'd never learned how. Yet when Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up, immediately his feet and ankles became strong. He didn't need months of physical therapy. He leaped up, walked, and entered the temple courts praising God at the top of his lungs.

Can you imagine the scene? The temple, usually a place of quiet reverence, suddenly filled with the exuberant shouts of a man experiencing the impossible. People recognized him—the beggar who sat at the Beautiful Gate—now walking, leaping, and praising God.

The Gospel in Action
When the crowd gathered in astonishment, Peter seized the moment to share the gospel. His approach offers us a template for how to share our faith, adapted to whatever situation we face.

First, he pointed to Jesus' identity. He called Him "the Holy and Righteous One," the one promised by the prophets, the Author of Life. The gospel always begins with who Jesus is—the Son of God, the promised Messiah, our Creator.

Second, he proclaimed Jesus' death and resurrection. "You killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." The gospel isn't complete if we only talk about Jesus' death. The resurrection is equally essential.

Third, he emphasized faith. "By faith in His name... this man has been made strong." The gospel message must be received by faith. It often sounds foolish to those hearing it for the first time, but faith is the channel through which God's power flows.

Fourth, and perhaps most often neglected, he called for repentance. "Repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away." Unless people understand why they need a Savior, they're unlikely to receive the gospel. Repentance means turning from sin and turning toward God—acknowledging what God says about our condition and His provision.

It's Not About Ability; It's About Availability
The lesson for us is clear: God doesn't need our ability; He needs our availability. Peter and Andrew weren't lying when they said they had no money. But they made themselves available to be used by God, and through them, God performed the miraculous.

Every day presents potential opportunities to minister—to believers struggling silently and to those who don't yet know Christ. The key is preparation. Before heading out the door, before gathering with other believers, we should pray: "God, is there someone You want me to minister to today?"

Sometimes ministry is as simple as asking, "Can I pray for you?" You don't need a script. You don't need theological training. You just need to be willing.

The Restoration Promise
Peter's message concluded with a promise: times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord. He spoke of the future restoration of all things—when creation itself will be renewed, when the lion will lie down with the lamb, when children will play safely near venomous snakes.

But restoration begins now, in the heart of every person who turns to Christ in faith. The gospel doesn't just promise future glory; it offers present transformation.

Your Next Opportunity
As you move through your days, keep your spiritual eyes open. That coworker having a difficult week, the person sitting alone, the stranger who crosses your path—any of these could be divine appointments. Don't let opportunities pass because you're focused on what you lack. Focus instead on what God has given you and make yourself available.

The next time God does something through you—not just in you, but through you—share that story. Let it encourage others to step out in faith. Because when we make ourselves available to God, we become part of the most thrilling adventure imaginable: participating in His redemptive work in the world.

Will you miss the opportunities, or will you pray, "Here am I, Lord. Send me"?