Main Reading Acts: 3: 1-11

Peter and John were on their way to the temple.  And a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was carried and laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;.  At this stage the deed of these people reminds us about a trait in us.  We do want to help people and feel pity on them.  But when the question arises about helping, we point our finger to somebody else.  In the same way this lame man was laid at the door of the temple to beg for alms.

Now Peter and John saw him with a different perspective.  Worldly people look at things in a selfish  way but Godly people look at the same thing in a different way.  Worldly people generally do not draw the attention of a person in need, but they flee away thinking that the needy person should not see him. If he saw, then he may ask something from them.  People would like to draw the attention of great leaders, Statesmen, industrialists etc.,   that these people should look at them.

Here, Peter and John wanted to show Jesus, who was hidden in them, to that lame man.  They said, Gold and Silver they do not have.  Many a time people say that they do not have – money, wealth, power and so on.  Is it true?  Behavioural attitude is that, those who have they will  say that they do not have and those who do not have they say that they have.  Rich people who have accounts in many reputed banks will say that we are facing an acute financial crunch.  Men, who do not have money, may boast that my bank balance is bigger.  This is a most commonly seen human tendency.

How we are projecting ourselves  to our fellow people?

Are we not lying on petty issues?  Are we not exaggerating a trivial thing because of ego and manipulating things so as to put us in a better position.  In Genesis 16 we see when Hagar conceived , she despised Sarai and started behaving like a mistress.  But in the wilderness an angel of Living God addressed her as Sarai’s handmaid.   Nothing is hidden in God`s eye.  We may think to ourselves as great personalities but God look at us in the same condition. Gal 6:3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Who should we like to look at us? Psalmist says, in Ps 41:1-2 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil. Jehovah will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and deliver not thou him unto the will of his enemies.How we are hurting our master by telling unwanted lies.  Who should we like to look at us?

In Isaiah God is asking us

Isa 57:11-12 And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?  I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.

Here Peter and John admit that they do not have Gold and Silver.  One sect of Prosperity Gospel preachers was arguing on this that they should have possessed all these blessings.  But the issue here is that they want to project Jesus in them more than anything else.  And in the same way want to make the lame man to focus on Jesus rather than anything else.

Matt 6:33 but seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When we sing the Song `I surrender all’, how do we dedicate ourselves to our Almighty God.  Are we singing it simply with our lips or amply with all our hearts? Peter and John really meant that when they said that they do not have Gold and Silver.  That is why they were able to project the Power of Jesus Christ Nazarene in them.  If we really sing this song meaningfully then we can also transform the Power of Jesus to many. Mr. Van de Venter has left this account of the writing of the hymn text: `For some time I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going to full time evangelistic work.  At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all.  A new day was ushered into my life.  I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart and touching a tender chord , He caused me to sing.’  ¹

The lame man looked at Peter and John in the hope of getting something but received Jesus and His instant healing instead.  (  Acts 3:8 )  And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Dear readers, there are so many yet to receive healing and yet to enter the eternity.  If we really hid ourselves behind His cross we can make it happen.  Amen.

Courtesy:  1. `101 more Hymn Stories’ by Kenneth W. Osbeck.