As my husband and I were driving past a park recently, my eyes were immediately drawn to the attention of a very vivacious squirrel! He was scurrying along the ground and every two or three feet he would leap into the air. I had never seen anything quite like it. He continued in this mode for several seconds. It was quite fun to watch this squirrel. My thoughts immediately went to the Bible passage about the lame man in Acts that was healed.
As you may recall in Acts 3:1-10 of a man lame from his mother's womb who was carried and laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. He saw Peter and John about to go into the temple and he asked them for alms. Peter fixed his eyes on the lame man, with John, asking him to look at them. The lame man did as he was asked, expecting to receive something from them. This man was about to get one of the biggest blessings of his life. His life was to be forever changed and because of it many would take notice.
Isn't that just like the character of our God? We have a God who overflows with goodness desiring to bless His people. God's love was so intense for this lame man that he lavished him with His goodness.
As the scripture in Acts 3 goes on to say, Peter said to the lame man, "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." Then Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and his feet and ankle bones received strength. So the lame man leaping up, entered the temple with them-----walking, leaping, and praising God! And all the people saw him walking, leaping and praising God!
I so love what God did in that passage for that lame man. Can't you just imagine how that lame man felt? He had never walked before and here he was leaping!! Just like that squirrel, he was leaping with great exhilaration and praising His magnificent God who had made him whole!
In His Great Love,
Sandy Billingham
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Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar
3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!
Acts 3:1-10
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