THINK
On These
Things
Now !
Philippians 4:8
In the book of Acts, Chapter 3, there is the remarkable story of a man who had been lame from birth and was healed in just a moment.
“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said,
‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: 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. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”
It is a great testimony to the power of Jesus Name and to the instantaneous power that the faith of a man like Peter can have in that Name. It is also an anecdote about how the apostle got one more opportunity to share the Gospel with the citizens of the day. All this is wonderful indeed.
As we rejoice, let us take a few moments to look at the situation from the viewpoint of the man who was healed. The Word says he was lame from his mother’s womb. It also says he was a man, an adult. At first, we are not told his exact age. Was he 20 years old? 30? 50? We don’t know. What we do know is that he had been lame for a long time – his whole life. (Later on, in Acts 4:22 it is revealed that “the man was above 40 years old.”)
As he sat there that day at the Gate Beautiful, he was not seeking healing. Such a thought was probably not even in the realm of his most hopeful thinking.
He was seeking alms to sustain himself. His hope was for food and perhaps shelter. His life was a settled one without hope of change. It had been the same for more than forty years.
Beg,
Buy food,
Beg some more.
What a cruel existence it must have been. He was totally dependent on others. He was not even able to bring himself to the gate. He needed others to do it for him.
But at a special time, a time called “NOW” in verse 1, a time appointed by God, his whole life changed.
NOW, Peter and John came by.
NOW the Name of Jesus Christ was invoked.
NOW he was instantly and totally healed.
NOW he could run and walk as he had never in his life been able to do.
NOW he was
Standing,
Walking,
Leaping,
Praising God.
Have you ever heard of such exuberance? Oh what joy he felt, what astonishment, what unexpected ecstasy!
It all took place at a moment in time that God had chosen. It didn’t happen 5 years or 5 days earlier. Not a month later. It happened NOW, in the fullness of God’s time. It was the day of God’s visitation, a day of deliverance.
We are accustomed to the idea that those who believe will receive gifts from God. Here is an example of one who received his gift and then believed. Grace upon grace.
Yes, as magnificent as his healing was, the greatest gift that day was his own new, dynamic, exuberant belief.
“And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” And He Gave Testimony!
Could it be that God has a NOW time for some of us and our needs and infirmities?
Perhaps your NOW time has not yet come. Your need or problem may be an old one. You may not even have been expecting a solution. You may be focused on just making do with the way things are, just as the lame man was.
God’s NOW time for you may be on the way.
Wait for it.
Watch for it.
Anticipate it.
Recognize it when it comes.
Seize it with all spiritual vigor.
Respond to it in a fashion that enables it to change your life. Let it galvanize your faith.
Rise up and run about in the public place giving Him praise and testimony.
Allow your victory to be the means by which a multitude of others discover the love of the Savior.
No act of God’s love
Is too small for us to rejoice,
In the temple and in the marketplace.
12/17
Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.
1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733
