Beggars Called to a Higher Place

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. Acts 3:1-7

A lame man sat at the entrance of the temple begging people for money because he was disabled and disadvantaged. Generally, we like to help those who are not capable of helping and providing for themselves. The fact that people were going to the temple, would have compelled them to help this poor man by giving him alms.

Years of disability and poverty had made the lame man to remain in his identity as a poor and disadvantaged person. He had learned to beg and depend on the monetary help of others. However, the lame man was in for a surprise!

The condition of being lame is not just limited to physical state but it can also be our about emotional impairment or our perceived mental limitations. Somewhere along the journey of life, the circumstances or rejection from others may have made us lame. We are not necessarily in need of money but we beg for acceptance and value.

Women can get into unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex because they need the affirmation of a man regardless of the cost to their emotions or bodies. Children perform highly at an athletic level just so they can have Dad’s respect. Men and women enslave themselves to their careers, so that they can feel valuable and significant by others.

Do we beg people for attention, value, security, or purpose? Has the attention of others made us remain in our needy position? Do we see ourselves as incapable apart from others’ intervention in our lives?

This lame man was brought by his friends  on a daily basis to the temple. They assisted him to beg everyday for what he thought he needed. This man had made a career out of begging, and he could have easily justified it because he was lame.

Have we become professional beggars and justify it because of our past? Do our friends help us to stay in the position of being beggars? Do we depend on people so heavily to the point that we think we would not be able to live life without their acceptance or assistance? As friends, are we enablers for others because it makes us feel valuable?

Peter and John approached the lame man, and he expected from them what he expected from others. However, Peter & John were no ordinary temple goers compelled to just give him a handout. They were about to knock his socks off by completely transforming his world and his life-long condition!

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.