look at us

The main work of disciples of Jesus is to point to Him, such that He has the preeminence rather than we.  Peter said to the crowd running towards him after the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, "why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ... It is Jesus' Name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him" (Acts 3:12,16).  And yet, when Peter began to act in Jesus' Name for that healing, he and John looked straight at the man, and said to him, "Look at us!" (Acts 3:4).  

Given that the man was at that Gate every day, asking for small donations from passersby, he might have expected these believers to give him something out of the funds derived from those who had sold their possessions to give to anyone who had need.  But Peter and John had something better to offer: themselves, and their Lord. They didn't just say a prayer and move on, even though that might have brought the same healing result.  What could have been a routine act of charity became a healing encounter with the believers first, and then with Jesus.

Though the Glory always goes to God, it is most often mediated through us, His People.  We welcome non-believers to look at us, because, in us, they will encounter The One Who lives in us in the Holy Spirit.  We should be able to join Peter and John in saying, "Look at us!", and "follow [us] as [we] follow Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).  The Faith that we invite others to receive from Jesus is a very human and corporate enterprise, even though it involves the God of Glory.  Let's lock eyes with others so that they can see Him, in us.