THE LAME BEGGAR HEALED

Reading from Acts Ch. 3 vs 1- 10

Do you think or believe Jesus has everything you need? I’ve typed the question as I wonder about it with reference to the passage. I think it’s a good question, I know we must talk about salvation and the love of Jesus but what about reliance on him? Whether for provision, direction, insights and relationship, do you believe or really think Jesus has and can give all of it? Think about it, but this passage helps us I think put this into consideration and it starts with Peter and John going to the temple to pray. There was a man lame from birth being carried to the beautiful gate of the temple where he would beg for alms. The guy was 40 and I can only imagine what living was like but here he was right outside Gods house asking for alms from whoever could share.

Peter and John were heading into the temple and the man asked for alms and they directed their gaze at him. They then said something I don’t think this man heard often, they said to him, “look at us”. I can imagine the lame beggar being surprised and the bible says he fixed his attention on them for he was expectant that they’d give him something. It might have been strange but it was routine for him, he was lame and he begged, he found some way to get help and he stuck to it for years and if he had to look at some guys for some money, why not. I think about us and how we have needs and things we’d most likely like to change but it’s gotten to a point where we accept what we can get and just go along through life. I’d say managing but what’s interesting is how most of the time God meets us in our typical mundane routines but I wonder if we’ve noticed this.

Peter said to the man, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you”. I like this statement and how it talks about there is in a sense always more to give. It acknowledges what the man was asking for but also that there was something else he could be given other than what he was so used to accepting or surviving with. I wonder if we ever think about that, like the alternative, like what else could be there, what else could help. What else have we not thought about or ever considered that would actually be helpful? Lately I’ve been getting my thoughts and assumptions challenged and it’s a little hard to sit with all the ways that I expect, assume or have gotten accustomed to how the world works and the new ideas feel odd and a little uncomfortable because what if it doesn’t work? The Lame man probably wondered in the moment like what can these men give me if not money, he survived and learned to just go about his life surviving on that. What could they have that could make things different or make the situation better?

I like God, yes I Love him but I also really like him, he challenges how I think and he helps me see beyond what I’m fixed/fixated on. He understands me and you and what we really need and desire, sometimes we get so preoccupied with surviving and living in the best way we know how and yet we’ve forgotten or overlooked all the important things. The things that maybe make you smile, that drive you, that make you feel like you or more fulfilled, basically the things you truly need and God doesn’t want you to walk through this life just barely surviving or even just managing. I know we think of the big desires or just wanting all the funds and whatever and we believe it’s what we need and will make life better but more often than not even when you have these things it will just expose that what you’re truly needing or desiring is still unmet. God looks at us, the whole entirety and depth of us and he understands what we actually need.

Peter said to the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” I’m sure from this you can see the real need he actually needed met. Peter took him by his right hand and helped him stand and his feet and ankles were made strong. He leaped and stood and begun to walk and leap and praise God, I don’t know if any of us can really imagine what that must have felt or looked like. This man was over 40 years old and he had never walked or stood or jumped or skipped or ran or whatever you can think of that we use our legs for. It was never really money he needed he just wasn’t able to do a lot of the things regular walking people do. Makes you think of how many things we actually take for granted. I imagine him looking at his feet and legs, stretching them out and being fascinated by the feeling and control and just being able to move on his own.

There’s a reason why there’s needs and wants and the former being more important. The people saw it or rather him walking and praising God and they recognised who he was, like yeah it’s that lame guy who sits asking for alms but now all of a sudden the guy is walking and leaping and praising God. It was really something, they wondered and were amazed about what happened as any of us would be. It would be interesting to see the leaping because regular adults don’t just leap anyhow but you get the point, God understood what would actually make the difference and it’s the same with us. I wonder about the waiting periods and how in our minds we have things in particular we’d like and believe that we need but have you ever thought about how you might be wrong? What if you don’t really understand what you need? Earlier I mentioned God meeting us in our routines and just think about the regular seemingly uninspiring events; a random call from a friend or someone getting you food or just something you asked for that might have been so small. Maybe the thing itself doesn’t matter but that feeling of knowing someone actually listened to you or someone came to comfort you. The thing with needs being met is they show you in a way that you are seen, heard and valued no matter what it might look like for you in particular.

But the question comes back, do you believe Jesus has everything you need? We believe he died for us and all these great things but do you truly rest and rely on him and his understanding of things and that you can have relationship with him? Because whether you notice it or not it shows, if not with yourself, others do see it and of course he sees it. Is he just a convenient sticker to help you not feel guilty or to just feel forgiven and you continue going through life counting and hoping in everything to change and help things except him? Do you think he knows you and all you need and can provide it outside what you think it is that you need and want? I can go on but you get it, ask yourself because you’ll see it in how you live and function especially when the things you truly count on don’t actually help or make things better. Will you let Jesus into the whole or entirety of you and your life? Can you trust that he who understands you will do the things that even when uncomfortable and unfamiliar will actually get you to a place that you never knew you needed to get and might actually discover is all you needed? Are you willing to be open enough and go through it all? It rests in our hands but know that Jesus loves you always!