Monday, June 23, 2008

The Temple Gate Called Beautiful

For the record, I've never read the book of Acts before, so I decided I would.  I read the first, oh, twelve chapters or so in one sitting, but that's beside the point.  The first section of chapter 3 hit me particularly hard, so I will rehash it for you right here:


Acts 3:1-10
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.  When he saw Peter and John about the enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John.  Then Peter said, "Look, at us!"  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk."  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 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.

All Peter said was, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk."

That's IT!  That's ALL he said - and the man walked for the first time in his life.  This amazes me; shocks me to the very core.  For Peter to have absolutely nothing tangible, but to have such faith in God that the Spirit's presence heals this man in virtually a heartbeat!

What is wrong with me?  As much as I've felt the call, I'm still such a doubter.  We've given our sick and our lame over to the medical profession; and it's always a toss up as to if they really heal to even a half better state than they were previously.  If we truly were faithful, without any doubt, would we really be able to heal like Peter?

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