by: Carole L. Haines

All of us are crippled by something at some point in our lives. We get entangled, we trip and fall. We sprain our ankles, twist our knees, or even break our leg, so to speak. The story we are about to read is of a man who was born lame. He never lived a day where he could walk until He met Jesus. Through Peter and John, this beggar was introduced to Him and His healing power. Let’s glean some truth from this beautiful story.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(Acts 3:1-10 NIV, Bible Gateway)

People cared about this man as is demonstrated by the fact that some of them carried him every single day to the temple gate to beg. They valued his life and wanted him to live. This man, however, had accepted his predicament. He didn’t even look at Peter and John when begging, so dejected was his precious heart. He was resolved to live this way for the rest of his life. But Jesus wanted to do so much more for this man than just feed him for a day. He wanted to heal him for a lifetime.

Perhaps you have resigned yourself to the way life is right now. Have you ever thought perhaps Jesus wants to do more in and through you? Peter asked this beggar to, “Look at us!” Is God is calling you to lift your gaze to Him and ask Him for something? Perhaps He wants you to adjust your thoughts, your assumptions, your expectations and look to Him to fill and use You in greater ways than you could ever imagine. Re-read the story above. A man crippled from birth had resigned himself to a half-life. There are no half-lives once we encounter Jesus. He envisions more for us than we often do for ourselves.

If you are feeling crippled by something today, run to Jesus. Lift your gaze to Him and pour out your whole heart before Him. Let all of it out as You seek Him in His presence. You could be crippled by your own mistakes or the bad choices of others. Perhaps, like this man, it was something completely out of your control that led you to this place of suffering. Jesus wants to do more, to lead you into a deeper walk with Himself. He wants to bring you closer to His Heart, to heal you from the inside out of all that hinders you from being fully His and trusting Him with all of your life.
Let’s join this precious beggar and lift our gaze to Jesus. Come and seek Him in front of the Beautiful Gate and give Him your full attention and pour out your hearts before Him. Let’s listen to Him in silence and hear what He would speak. He is here, He is drawing You to Himself, He loves you. Draw near in this quiet time.