Acts 3:1-10
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.
What Would Jesus Do?
There is so much in these short two chapters that I want to write about. It's difficult to narrow it down to one thing. There is Spiritual Warfare, healing, giving to the poor, communal living, the Power and Wisdom of the Spirit......and I'm just getting warmed up. So, for most of the day I'm thinking, "what do I want to write on, what do I want to write, what do I say?". And I keep answering myself, "it's not what Dan wants its what God wants." And then I answer my answer. "I know that but what does God want me to write about? What does God want me to say? What do I want to write, what do I say?"
"It's not what Dan wants its what God wants." And around and around until I finally figured out who's voice was telling me that. Duh. This blog is about getting what God wants...not necessarily what we want. But first, a story.
While walking from the car to work last week a man, lying on the sidewalk asked if I had a dollar. I replied quickly that I didn't. Who carries cash anymore? Then he asked if I had a quarter. Sure, I have a few quarters. Can I have one? No. Why not? Because then I'd have one less quarter. Let me say that if i had given him a quarter, i could lose my job. it wasn't about the money. Ok, a penny, give me a penny. At this point I entered the building and was just thinking. What can you really do with a penny? Nothing. But at some point it became his mentality to just get something from me. Anything. Even if its worthless. I wonder, if he could ask God for one thing, would it be a quarter?
So back to Acts. Here we have a man, never taken a step in his entire life. He's been carried to the busiest part of the city every day for who knows how long by his friends. (May I say that if I need to be, I hope to be able to find the strength needed to be that good of a friend.) He sits there all day, every day. He probably makes a pretty good salary but I'm sure it's not his dream job. We don't know how long he's been doing it, but long enough for most people in town to know who he is, what he looks like, what he wants and probably the sound of his voice. Maybe some even know his name.
Then he sees two fishermen turned men fishers and asks them for what he asks everyone; a little pocket change. And what do these two righteous men, these followers and apostles of Jesus Christ, the boys that founded the Catholic Church say? They say no. They say that they don't have any silver or gold for him. How can that be the right answer? Is that what Jesus would do?
As it turns out, yes. We humans can be so short sighted. How many times have I wanted what's right in front of me when if I had waited or sought Gods will or His way, I could have so much better? How many times have I asked for something from someone and they could have given so much more, something so much better? How many times does the flesh deceive me and the devil gets his way? By denying the fleshly desires of this old cripple, Peter and John, through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, show us what Jesus would have done, and did do. He went so far beyond giving him a quarter, He gave him life.
What are you asking God for? A handout or life? Do you want to be made well as only Christ can? Or are you satisfied being lame?
"It's not what Dan wants its what God wants." And around and around until I finally figured out who's voice was telling me that. Duh. This blog is about getting what God wants...not necessarily what we want. But first, a story.
While walking from the car to work last week a man, lying on the sidewalk asked if I had a dollar. I replied quickly that I didn't. Who carries cash anymore? Then he asked if I had a quarter. Sure, I have a few quarters. Can I have one? No. Why not? Because then I'd have one less quarter. Let me say that if i had given him a quarter, i could lose my job. it wasn't about the money. Ok, a penny, give me a penny. At this point I entered the building and was just thinking. What can you really do with a penny? Nothing. But at some point it became his mentality to just get something from me. Anything. Even if its worthless. I wonder, if he could ask God for one thing, would it be a quarter?
So back to Acts. Here we have a man, never taken a step in his entire life. He's been carried to the busiest part of the city every day for who knows how long by his friends. (May I say that if I need to be, I hope to be able to find the strength needed to be that good of a friend.) He sits there all day, every day. He probably makes a pretty good salary but I'm sure it's not his dream job. We don't know how long he's been doing it, but long enough for most people in town to know who he is, what he looks like, what he wants and probably the sound of his voice. Maybe some even know his name.
Then he sees two fishermen turned men fishers and asks them for what he asks everyone; a little pocket change. And what do these two righteous men, these followers and apostles of Jesus Christ, the boys that founded the Catholic Church say? They say no. They say that they don't have any silver or gold for him. How can that be the right answer? Is that what Jesus would do?
As it turns out, yes. We humans can be so short sighted. How many times have I wanted what's right in front of me when if I had waited or sought Gods will or His way, I could have so much better? How many times have I asked for something from someone and they could have given so much more, something so much better? How many times does the flesh deceive me and the devil gets his way? By denying the fleshly desires of this old cripple, Peter and John, through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, show us what Jesus would have done, and did do. He went so far beyond giving him a quarter, He gave him life.
What are you asking God for? A handout or life? Do you want to be made well as only Christ can? Or are you satisfied being lame?