Leap and Praise God!

"Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him" (Acts 3:1-10 NRSV).

Are others "filled with wonder and amazement" at what has happened to you? Can those around you tell that you are one who has been saved by God's grace through Jesus Christ of Nazareth? Have you prayed and prayed for something you wanted and just felt as if God was never going to answer your prayer--in the way you wanted it answered?  These verses speak to me as I answer these questions, "no" and "yes" respectively!

 No

Most of the time I'm pretty sure I am not as good a Christian as I would like to be--in fact I'm certain of it! I don't always act and speak in such a way that should--or at least could--lead others to Christ! Sadly, sometimes just the opposite is true.

Yes

I have prayed--without ceasing and with all ardent hope of an answer--without receiving the answer I expected or wanted. Upon reading this passage of Scripture, verse 5 stands out for me for the first time: "And he [the cripple] fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them." This cripple reminds me of me!

Peter and John looked directly at the cripple. They gave him their undivided attention--they acted as one person. The beggar expected a few coins, which is what he typically hoped to receive from passersby. He anticipated receiving money or perhaps was bracing for a kick or shove when someone had a bad day and decided to take it out on him.

"I have not silver or gold, but I give you what I have." Wow! We may think we know what we want, or what we need. But, God has an even greater plan for us! He offers us riches beyond our imagining! He offers us life with Him in heaven! I don't know about you, but so often I think I know what I want! I am absolutely certain, and yet, what God offers me is not what I had in mind at all. Just as the disciples offered the cripple more than he bargained for, God offers me more than I could ever hope for or imagine--and certainly more than I could ever earn or deserve!

We think we need a bigger house and a newer car and that our kids need to go to "the best" school and are in all the "right" sports leagues and extracurricular activities. We think we need that promotion, more money, and more prestige. Are we ever really satisfied? Aren't we forever looking around the next corner, wondering what we're missing out on? Don't we long for more, no matter how much we have? Could it be we are asking for the wrong things?

Jesus offers us more. Actually He offers us . . . everything! Everything we need, now, tomorrow, forever! He wants us to be unburdened by the wants and perceived needs of this world. He wants to take us by the right hand and raise us up. He wants us to leap and praise God! He wants our undivided attention, too--because He offers us His. He want us to look to Him alone--The Way, The Truth and The Life.

When we turn our lives over to Christ, we are also made immediately strong--strong in our conviction to live rightly. We don't rely upon the opinions of our neighbors. We seek out godly friends. We set our priorities based upon a new set of criteria. We examine our lives through kingdom eyes.

It's hard to live by a new, higher standard. I wonder what the beggar did for his livelihood after he was healed? Had he ever learned a skill? I guess his only recourse was to become a disciple, like Peter and John. I imagine that in his healing, he was unafraid to declare the Good News to everyone who would listen! After that miraculous healing, he knew he only need to rely upon Jesus for his life, and for his living.

I hope today that you will seek not the silver and gold of this world, but the thing of true value that Christ offers us. And that you will leap and praise God in the presence of all you meet!

Merry Christmas!