I shouldn’t be surprised…but I always am. I’m reading a familiar verse in Scripture and… boom…the Holy Spirit hits me with something I hadn’t seen before. We often talk about the Bible being a living, breathing message from the Lord to us. So, you see, we shouldn’t be so surprised.

A couple of Sundays ago I was reading Acts 3 and the very familiar story of Peter and John healing the lame man on the way to the temple. The man had been at the entrance each day for probably 40 years. He was begging for a little money to help him in his pitiful life. No doubt he looked at Peter and John expectantly. Peter knew exactly what he wanted…but also knew what the man really needed.

Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Acts 3:6-7 NASB

Here is where I had a bit of an epiphany. Peter didn’t just say, “Get up and walk,” and then go on his way. Peter reached out, grabbed the man’s hand, and raised him up. And in reading the passage more closely, it was after Peter lifted the man up that the healing miracle happened.

So… what does this have to do with you and me, with media and leadership? I believe that God wants us to expect great things that will serve His purpose and give Him glory. But the Lord wants us to not just speak truth…but to act on that truth. Peter was involved. He was committed. It was not only the Lord’s reputation at stake, but it was also Peter’s reputation as well. What if the man was still lame? What if he got up, but his feet and ankles still wouldn’t work? How would that advance the cause of Christ? Peter was willing to put himself out on a limb for the Lord.

One more thing struck me. Peter and John were on their way to the temple. I’m guessing they had been that way many, many times before. And I’m certain they were focused on God’s mission for their life in those early days of the church. After all, things were just getting started. Thousands had been added to the kingdom in recent days. Those folks needed leadership. What’s one more day for this crippled man? Aren’t the thousands more important than the one?

Except…

Except this man cried out, and God’s Spirit spoke to Peter’s heart. This man. This one. This time. Right now.

Henry Blackaby says, “It’s easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing good things that you are of no help to the people around you.”

I have to examine myself on that one. Ministry can be consuming. Most leaders are focused. And most Christian leaders are focused on building up the Lord’s ministries and the Lord’s work. Guess what? That may not be our most important assignment. The most important thing we can do for the Lord Jesus is to be obedient. Right then…when God speaks.

What if Peter had said, “Hang on, I’ll come back this way after I have ‘served the Lord?’” Wouldn’t that have been okay? Except. If we know what the Lord wants us to do…and we say “wait,” then we are not being obedient.

Again, Henry Blackaby: “Delayed obedience…is disobedience.” Ouch!

When God’s Spirit speaks to us, that is not an interruption. It is the Lord Jesus giving us orders. Orders to follow. Right then. Your cry to God is not an interruption for God. Don’t let His voice in your heart seem like an interruption to you.

God’s best…