lame

last night we had a bible study with some friends. we read the first eight verses of acts 3.

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God

there were a lot of us, and everybody was talking about "what they got" out of the passage or something. i thought it was interesting that peter and john had no money, and they couldn't get the beggar out of his situation by themselves. the poor helped the poor. telling people about JESUS isn't supposed to be condescending. it's one beggar showing another where to find life. everyone else was saying all this stuff about how we should reach out to people and how we should take time to help people and have faith in ourselves to do good works or whatever.

here's what i was thinking. everyone else at the place was putting themselves in peter and john's shoes. they were taking the example of the deciples and applying it to their lives. but what if we are supposed to relate to the beggar? he went and sat outside the temple to look for money. what if we go to church looking for something that we want, instead of something that we need, and GOD sees our need and heals us? sometimes we aren't crippled men, but we have depression or bitterness or sin that is just as hindering that we need to be rid of. and GOD can heal anything. i think sometimes we need to be the lame man. how else would we grow?

the important part is that after GOD has blessed us beyond what we could even hope for or ask for, we walk and leap and bring glory to his name. we take advantage of our new blessings and tell others that GOD is responsible.

i know right now i feel pretty lame. that sounds funny, but i wish someone would see what i need and help me out. i feel crippled.