By: Mike Kelly
Retired Pastor
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 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.
When he saw Peter and John about to 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 do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ 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 leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-9) Quite an exciting story, isn’t it? Peter has no money to give but he gives so much greater a gift, the ability to walk for the first time ever!
And look at the joy it brings! And in the next verses, Peter is able to give a salvation message to the Jews in the Temple. Miracle, Joy, Salvations! Where is that today? Where is it in today’s church? Where are the miracles? Where is the joy? Where are the salvations?
Where are the Peters and Johns, those filled with such boldness that they help a lame man to stand to see his ankles and feet immediately strengthened and he walks for the first time ever in his life?
Where are the Christians so filled with joy that they find themselves leaping and praising God? Where is the expectation that God will do great and mighty things if we but ask and trust?
Most of us who still go to church, go with no real expectation that God will show up in some mighty way. We go out of habit or obedience to God’s Word.
We go to sing songs that sometimes focus us on God and His majesty, to listen to a sermon maybe hoping to get something out of it we can take to work tomorrow, to see friends and keep abreast of their lives.
But imagine going to church and seeing the manifestation of God’s glory next Sunday. Imagine watching God show up to speak to us. Imagine God coming down in His Glory and sitting with us to enjoy our praises.
Imagine God healing a broken body or a broken spirit. I want what the beggar got! I want to be healed by God. I want to share that joy with everyone I meet. I want to leap and praise God without inhibitions.
I want to be able to worship without anyone caring if my hands are raised or if I shout an “Alleluia” or “Amen” during a sermon.
I want to go to work tomorrow and boldly tell everyone what God did yesterday at church. What He did for me! I want to share His praises with the waitress and the clerk and my neighbor. I want to see miracles and salvations and healings.
The question is: Am I willing to be that beggar? Am I willing to let people see my brokenness? I am willing to be so exposed that others know how messed up I am?
Am I willing to let someone pray over me? Am I willing to let someone pull me up? There is no faith needed to be the beggar. He just sat there asking for money. He had no expectation of being healed.
He wasn’t crying out “heal me”. He was just begging. Am I willing to cry out to God? Am I willing to accept from God what he wants to give me even if it isn’t what I think I want?
Am I willing to be humiliated everyday with my needs being evident to all? Am I willing to ask everyone for help? Or will I keep it all quiet, fearing the exposure?
So, I’ll ask it again: “Am I willing to be vulnerable? Exposed? Openly broken? Are the miracles and joy and salvations still available if I’m willing to be that beggar? Maybe God hasn’t changed in 2000 years.
Maybe he is the same today as He was then. Maybe God is waiting for us as the church to realize that we are not the Peters and Johns but the beggar. Maybe. We won’t know until we become aware that we are the beggar.
———————–
Mike Kelly is the founding pastor of Bryan’s Grace Community Church (retired) and Board Chairman of Bryan’s Sanctuary Homeless Shelter and Williams County’s Compassion (free) Medical Clinic.