| What I Can Learn From . . . , Part 13: The Lame Man in the Temple |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, December 05 2005 00:00 |
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We have received favorable comment from the series on “What Can I Learn From…?” as we investigated lessons in the lives of various Old Testament personalities. We continue the series now by moving into the New Testament. Luke writes of a three P.M. encounter Peter and John had with a cripple in the temple when they went there for the regular prayer service. Having just returned from Europe, the sight of beggars at church doors is fresh in my own memory, and it was no different in Biblical days. This man was crippled from birth, meaning that he had never walked and, obviously, his legs had never developed physically to enable him to do so. The man, of course, had no expectation of healing, but like disabled people throughout the world, his only possible hope lay in peoples’ generosity. Thus, he was begging money from these two apostles of Christ. Peter responded that he wasn’t carrying money with him at the time, but he did have something for the man. He then surprisingly commanded him to get up and walk. To tell a man who had never walked and lacked the physical ability or knowledge of how to do so is strange indeed, but Peter took him by the right hand, helped him up, and instantly the man found the strength, ability and knowledge to walk. He was so overjoyed with what had happened to him that he walked and even jumped into the temple praising God, so that people who recognized him were utterly amazed. We should immediately see what we can learn. To tell a sinner who is in bondage to sin and who lacks the ability to come to Christ and the knowledge of how to do it is strange indeed, yet that is what we do when we preach the gospel to the lost. But the lost have no more ability to respond than did the crippled beggar in the temple – unless there is a miraculous intervention of grace from God! When people respond to the gospel, let us never think it is because they are able, smart, wise, knowledgeable, or good. It is because God has lifted the veil from their hearts, drawn them to Christ, opened their dead and sinful hearts, and brought them to life so they can walk, jump, and praise the God of all grace who has saved them from hopeless despair! |
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