In Acts 3:1-8 we find Peter and John going up to the Temple, and a lame man lying at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple begging alms of the people. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple he asked alms of them; and Peter, fastening his eyes on him, said, "Look on us" and he gave heed to them—expecting to receive some kind of a gift. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee." And then he commanded him to arise; and he was made whole, and arose and walked, and entered with them into the Temple.

Taking a look at this man we see him down and out, physically, financially and spiritually. The passers-by helped with what little they had to give in the way of prolonging his life, but no genuine relief was given. Peter went to him, took him by the hand, and raised him up; he received strength—such as he had never had before, and entered with them into the Temple, praising God.

Let us view the situation today :—Sinners are down, without God and without hope in the world. Eph. 2:1. Without the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation, they are helpless. The sectarians, denominations, fraternities, and charities give them the "crumbs," as it were, but cannot give them the things their souls long for. We, the Church of Christ, have said, "Look on us." We say to the world, that we have the whole truth, that we take the Bible as it reads, and offer no substitutes. And the hungry soul who longs for the-right way is looking and longing for some help from us. They expect something of us. The honest heart of the sinner is hungry and yearning for the bread of life. The sectarians do not have this bread of life to give to them. They can entertain them with fair speeches and death-bed stories; they can feed their physical bodies and clothe them; can build costly houses in which for them to worship, but still the hungry, honest soul is down—lost.

Peter said "Silver and gold have I none." "We are broke;" the same thing that most all true gospel preachers have to say. We do not have the costly meeting house to invite them to, nor the fancy notions of instant salvation through prayer, and so on. But, such as you do have, give. We have the whole truth, and that truth will give them strength. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." We should go to them, and not wait for them to come to us. They are lost and helpless. Let us be sympathetic, like Peter, and take them by the hand and raise them up. We should not turn a deaf ear to the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us." (Acts 16:9). Remember that every time we have a soul, not only do we save that soul, but we hide a multitude of sins. That soul quits sinning, turns away from sin, and "goes in with us into the Temple (Church) of God," and uses his influences for the good of the cause. So when we convert one soul we gain double in strength :—like playing "dare base," we have one more on the Lord’s side and one less on the enemies’ side.

Thousands around us are like this man—down, helpless, hungry, longing for the bread of life, the pure gospel. They are "looking on us." If you cannot go to them with this help, the gospel, then send some one who can. Remember that the "Wrath of God is revealed from heaven against them who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 2:18). May this charge not be laid to our account in the last day!