Begging for Change

Acts 3:1-2 (NIV) 
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

Peter and John, arrived at the temple the same hour as the crippled man and his friends. Every day at three in the afternoon this man could be found, begging for money from those heading into the temple.

Maybe his presence was expected and perhaps there were those generous attendees who regularly dropped something into his hands. He went there every day so he must have profited.  This man, a regular sight, and one many people looked at but didn't see, would soon find his world changed forever. 

I know we heard read this story many times before, but did you ever wondered what happened the next day? What changed for that man the day after his miraculous healing? Did he still go to the temple gate? Did his friends still go with him?

When a major life-change occurs, how do we face the next days? When many of us came to faith it was after years of prayers or learning or struggles. It wasn't an overnight thing. We gradually made changes to how we lived each day; our faith grew and became repentant Believers. 

But for this man and some of us, significant change happens on the spot. A death unexpectedly turns our world upside down. A few us of even experience healings - perhaps of the body, but maybe of the heart. For certain, when Jesus touches us with His healing power - be it of the body, mind or spirit - nothing is ever the same again.

Acts 3:1-10

So true!

“Then [the rulers, elders, teachers and high priest] called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” Acts 4:18-20

(To read the entire story of the healing of the crippled man, click here.)

When my wife was fifteen, she pondered Christianity for her own life. One day, her thoughts culminated in this question: “If God is real, what does he require of me?” Upon further reflection, she ultimately concluded: “What God requires of me is ... me!”

Truth is a powerful thing: it demands we deal with it and it exacts a response from all who encounter it. Following the healing of the crippled man and Peter’s ensuing sermonette, “many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” But though the religious leaders of the day saw the same miracle and heard the same message, they remained faithless. All stood face-to-face with truth, and each had no choice but to choose between belief and unbelief.

Truth is immovable: we can align ourselves and flourish under its power and authority, or we can resist it to the point of exhaustion, collapse and inevitable failure. When the rulers asked, “By what power or what name did you do this?,” Peter replied, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but who God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.... Salvation is found in no one else...” Seeing the courage of Peter and John (and, by the way, the now-formerly crippled man also standing there in front of them!), “there was nothing they could say.” Despite all their learning and sophistry, these religious leaders lost all confidence in their own understandings. Had they been able to articulate any error in the disciples’ message or harmfulness in their deeds, they certainly would have silenced them through rebuttal. Instead, the only “argument” they could muster was, in essence, “Shut up! Just shut! ... up!” Peter, John and the healed man all thrived under the certainty of truth, while the leaders exhausted their credibility – and exposed their fragility – against it.

Truth is a person. His name is Jesus. He stands powerfully and immovably before us all as “the way and the truth and the life.” Each of us will respond to him, some in belief and some in unbelief. And every one of us will either submit ourselves to him, or exhaust ourselves in resistance.

Yes, he who gave himself for us now calls us to give ourselves to him. And what does he promise to all who believe and obey? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

So true! So true. So true ...

Acts 3: 3-10

Healing and Preaching the Name

A crippled beggar saw Peter and John about to enter the temple. Knowing only what his worldly need was, the beggar asked them for money. Peter responded by telling the man he had no silver or gold, but would give him what he had. "In the name of Jesus Christ, walk." Peter brought God to the situation, and the beggar was healed with words.

Peter had no power to heal, but in deep faithful trust in the Lord, he knew he could be used as a vehicle for healing. With his whole heart and being Peter believed God would be with him and had such deep faith that he allowed the words of healing to come forth. The Father was with Peter, and offered this cripple a gift far greater than what he asked for.

Often those hurting ask for things that do not reflect their true need. A few pieces of silver would not have helped this man in the long run, and Peter recognized this. Though having his physical ailment cured was a true blessing and relief, being able to walk did not offer the man what he truly needed.

Peter offered him the gift of eternal life through the presence of God. Once he could walk the beggar went to the temple courts "walking and jumping, and praising God." He began to enter into a relationship with Jesus, that is what he really needed, and what true healing is.

Our world is filled with suffering individuals who require a relationship with God in order to heal. They may be depressed, bitter, physically compromised, or have mental illness. Many have been through momentary tragedies and others, heartbreaking situations for many years. No matter what the apparent cause of their difficulties, only the peace that comes from a relationship with our Lord will heal them.

As we live our Christian faith, we are called to pray and create a place for others to be in God's presence so they can feel His love, and experience His healing touch. We are commissioned to "Speak Life" in order to save the lives of those who so desperately need it.

Hear the words of Toby Mack "Speak Life"
Read/Listen to Acts 3: 3-10