Beautiful, Part 1

"Beautiful." It is amazing how the name of the temple gate is perfectly appropriate for the story found in Acts 3: 1-10. It sets the scene. A poor lame man begging for money might not be the most beautiful sight in the world, but to see that man healed...now that's something else entirely.

God's displays of power often are "beautiful." He can take the most hopeless of situations and turn it into the most incredible of opportunities. His power reveals His love for mankind. And this story reveals a beautiful message for our own crippled lives.

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Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and john about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

And fixing his eyes on him with John, Peter said, "Look at us."

So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them - - walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging 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

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The lame man was pleading for money from Peter and John. He thought the silver coins were what he needed more than anything else. He didn't consider gaining the use of his limbs as something to ask for. It didn't even occur to him. When the disciples spoke to him, he was still focused on the money.

But God knows our needs better than we do ourselves.

God didn't use Peter to give the lame man what he asked for. Through Peter, He gave him something better...something that completely changed the lame man's life...something that he truly, desperately needed.

He gave him the ability to walk. The man who had never before stood on his own could now leap and dance for joy.

God sometimes answers our prayers in the same way. He doesn't always give us what we want, but He will give us what we need. Sometimes we are so focused on the "money" - - what we need to get by - - that we forget about our "legs" - - what we need to really live. God doesn't say, "Okay, here's some money. Go buy some food and I'll give you more money tomorrow." No. God isn't like that. He says, "Here's a new life. Rise up, and follow Me."

Oh my goodness, what a calling! God isn't offering us "just enough"; He's offering us more than enough.

Christ has given me legs.

I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10b

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8