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“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 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. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 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!”

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. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.” –Acts 3:1-9

I love this story of provision. Imagine with me, having been born disabled from birth. Unable to walk. Unable to work. Unable to participate in worship in the Temple of God, all because of a birth defect.

The source of your hope each day is reliant upon someone else’s generosity and finances. Even the few coins earned are only possible because there are those willing to carry you in and set you next to a gate leading to the Temple Mount.

This has been your life. Not a few years. This has been the only past you have known, and frankly is the only future you expect.

And then, on an ordinary day, the supernatural occurs. Two men approach and instead of dropping a few coins in his direction, they stop and speak. Instead of harsh words or belittling, they ask this crippled man to look at them. As this socially discarded man looks up into the faces of Peter and John, and sees them looking intently at him, perhaps his heart starts to race. Will they give me a large sum? Are these two men going to meet my needs for this day?

Is it possible that this man upon actually looking at the faces of John and Peter even for a moment has a spark or recognition? Do they look familiar? Were these men with Jesus? Surely a man who had been placed day after day in front of the Temple gate would have seen or heard of this man Jesus. He would have heard of the healings. He would have heard of the crucifixion. He would have heard and wondered why not him? Why was he so unlucky?

And then the unthinkable happens. Peter begins to speak. “I don’t have silver or gold for you…” No money. No financial help here. These men will not be feeding him today.

I find it fascinating that Peter doesn’t say that he has no silver or gold. He instead tells the man, I don’t have silver or gold for you. It’s possible that Peter and John had some coins in their pocket, but they knew that coins were not the answer. This man didn’t really need another day of charity. He needed the healing of Jesus! He needed to be set free! He needed hope. He needed delivered. He needed way more than what he was asking for, or even dared to dream of for himself. He needed the impossible.

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” An outstretched hand extends toward him. This is inconceivable. No one about to enter the temple would touch him! He might make them unclean! This is different. This is unexpected. This is so far from what he hoped they might offer, and yet is exactly what he needs. He doesn’t hesitate.

And for the first time in his life, he walks. Walking seems insufficient. He is overwhelmed by what is happening. He begins to leap. And as only one who is healed by God – completely set free can – he worships God with uncontrollable praise. His praise is so loud, and his scene is so great that he is drawing a crowd.

The beggar was healed. Set free. No longer a slave to his disability, but a freed child of God. A believer. And his healing set the stage for others to come to Christ.

Friend, I do not know why God allowed this man to be born lame. For that matter, I am not sure why God allows our hurts and pains to exist, when an all-powerful God could easily heal – just by saying the words. While those answers elude me, the truth of God’s goodness does not. God may allow pain, but God grows us in the process. We learn to rely on Him, seek Him, and as He so often does, He allows us to see Him more clearly in the midst of it. God is still in the healing business. Sometimes He heals in ways we cannot comprehend – ways that are unexpected… Yet He heals.

While we wait, may we wait with expectation – with eyes fixed on Him. Looking for our LORD to meet us. And when He responds, may we never hesitate to worship with uncontrollable praise.

Blessings!