Leaping in Faith
When I was little, one of my favorite Sunday School songs was about Peter and John and the lame man in the temple. I think I just liked it because we had fun motions to it, but it built a familiarity and affinity for the Biblical account that has stuck with me as I have grown. There is one detail about the account, though, that I had never considered until recently.
Here is the passage:
“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 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.” (Acts 3:1-10)
The lame man certainly doesn’t seem to have gone to the temple expecting to be healed that day. He probably just hoped to make enough to be able to have a good meal that night. He was carried there, and sat as he did day after day, helpless, dependent on the generosity of the temple-goers who passed by.
When Peter and John stopped, he apparently wasn’t looking at them. Perhaps he was distracted by other passers-by, perhaps it had been a slow day and he simply assumed they wouldn’t give anything. But imagine looking up as he did, and hearing Peter’s words.
Rise and walk. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We are not told if this lame man knew of Jesus already, but we are told a detail that gives us a glimpse into his faith.
If you were lame, had been lame for a long time, perhaps all your life, and someone told you to get up and walk, you would probably laugh in their face. But this man heard Peter’s words and believed.
He not only got up, he leaped. Before that moment when his newly-strengthened muscles sprang into action, the man had no way of knowing whether or not he had been or would be healed. He didn’t know how the healing would work, or what exactly to expect: he just did as Peter said.
But what touches my heart in his response is the fact that he didn’t get up cautiously or ask to lean on Peter or John as he got up. He didn’t ask questions first, or test out his legs before getting up. He leaped. He obeyed Peter’s command with enthusiasm that puts his faith on display. He put his might into obeying, and as he did, God strengthened him.
Now, this is a real story, a historical account of something that happened in a specific individual’s life. But it’s also a good picture for us of how the Christian life works. Once we have accepted Christ’s payment for our sin, we are given the Holy Spirit to indwell us, calling us to acts of faith that—in our own strength—are impossible. Just as that lame man couldn’t have gotten up on his own without God’s empowering, you and I can’t do what God calls us to unless we have His power to enable us. Philippians 2:13 tells us,
“For it is God which worketh in your both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
But God won’t make us obey. He offers us all the help, motivation, and help we need in order to do what He calls us to do, but it is up to us to decide to let Him work in and through us. Like the lame man’s legs were strengthened at the moment he leapt up, so you and I are strengthened with God’s might as we move to obey Him.
And like that lame man, we should go on our way rejoicing, bringing glory to God as they see Him doing the impossible in our lives.
Dear Reader, how is your faith today? James tells us that faith without works is dead. (2:20, 26)
True faith leaps into action when the Holy Spirit prompts, depending on God to give the strength and ability to obey what He has asked of us. Ask God to show you today how He wants you to leap up in faith and obedience to Him!
“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”1 Thessalonians 5:24