How would you have reacted?

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.

(((Can you picture this scene? Take a moment. Two apostles of the crucified Christ walked to the temple when it was the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. There at gate was a forty some year old man laying on the ground, his useless legs covered. Quickly looking up at these two men just about to enter the temple the man cries out for an alms.  "Help a lame man, sirs? Please, have pity upon me." He was pleading his cause, the reality being this was his only means of supporting himself, of earning monies. He wasn't dressed elegantly or even averagely, but rather shabbily kept, he couldn't afford to spend what little bit he could get from the temple goers on his clothes.  People helped him, those that could but some times they couldn't help him as much as they might have in the past. There was no set income to count on here, just the charitable heart of those who sometimes saw him daily upon his mat seeking help.  Peter and John had lived with their Savior for three years and knew that He would want them to help this man. Their Savior had helped many men in such condition, He didn't turn them away but His heart went out to them.  To ignore the lame man's pleas would go against all they'd learned from their Lord and Savior.))))

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.

(((You can visualize it, you can. The men were going to help him, not ignore him as so many did. All they wanted was his eyes upon them. He'd downcast them after calling out to them, begging, showing the deep contrition he felt over having to ask for a handout. These men didn't want him looking away, they wanted his gaze upon them. Quickly he raised his eyes to their faces, expectation of hope alive in his sad eyes.))))

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.

(((Before the lame man had a chance to react to the words spoken- that they would not be giving him gold or silver- the only things he was expecting- he felt the hand of Peter slide into his. The fingers squeeze his hand and immediately his feet and ankles healed! Where before there was absolutely no real bones like we know bones to be, the useless bones that held no strength at all, that could never even allow this man as a baby to stand were given all the strength they needed! Just imagine how that had to feel! Peter lifted the lame man up by one hand, and expecting to crumble the man found he could stand! He could STAND! He leaped up upon his legs for the very first time! He walked! And he entered the temple! He didn't walk quietly into the temple but he walked, leaped all the while praising God!  You and I can ONLY imagine what he was feeling, this most marvelous of miracles.

How would YOU have reacted?

All of you have chronic pain, or know others who do. All you who live with ailments, defects and injuries, every one is in this situation either experiencing it or knowing someone who is and I want you to take just a moment to imagine yourself or someone else being healed this way.

It's all but unfathomable that it is reality, but it is! It was! And the SAME GOD who performed that miracle, the SAME POWER FROM GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, EXISTS TODAY!

By the grace of our most precious LORD, more on this tomorrow!

All in HIS LOVE!