A Not-So-Lame Response

Acts 3:1-10 

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
 ¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame 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. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


Verses 8-10 raise a few questions for me...

What if he hadn't responded??
What if upon his healing the beggar simply said "thanks guys" and went on his way?
What if he chalked it all up to coincidence?

The beggar had received an amazing gift of healing at the hand of Peter, and with that he had a choice of how he could respond. Had he chosen to respond by simply getting up and walking there would undoubtedly be many who would have noticed. And with that there could have been several if not many who came to believe in the power of Christ.

But that's not what he did.

He entered the Temple Courts not only walking, but "jumping and praising God."

In other words he created a spectacle of himself.

And because he wasn't afraid of looking like a fool or offending anyone, it says that "all were filled with wonder and amazement."

I am in no way saying that you should go out and make a spectacle of yourself...in fact, please don't do that.

However, I would invite you to wonder with me what would happen if were a little less afraid of mockery and judgement of our peers, and little more abandoned with our Joy? Christ has blessed ALL of us abundantly (if you have the resources to access, and the education to understand this blog, you are blessed my friend!).

Just a little food for thought :)