David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 3:1-10

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

We were sitting in the cheap seats (cheap being a relative term!) at an NHL hockey game. Along with the usual cheers and boos one particularly boystrous fan felt compelled to shout an obscene word that used to be reserved for R-rated movies and locker rooms. Once, then twice came the expletive. Rather than enduring it (along with my family), I got the fan’s attention and said, “Don’t do that.” And somehow that worked. The language changed from R-rated to PG.
On this occasion of the lame man’s healing the spectators were filled with awe when they saw the once-lame man walking and leaping and praising God. I’m not certain just why the people in the temple didn’t have a stronger reaction against this event. Perhaps the priests, Sadducees, and temple guards didn’t immediately realize that all this was being done in the name of Jesus. That would change soon enough (chapter 4). But the common folks were in awe. The implication is that they realized something extraordinary was going on. They weren’t put off by this commotion, else Luke surely would have told us so. In stead, God had gotten their attention and they listened to Peter as he called them to repent.
Although we may not often see such dramatic demonstrations of God’s power and work in people’s lives, we do have some choice in how we respond as we do see God at work. We can yawn in bored apathy. We can seek to debunk or deny the hand of God in the affairs of men and women. Or we can embrace these events as a call to discern God’s work in the lives of people. We can recognize that God’s kingdom is breaking into our world; something important has happened.
Over the past few years I have been seeking to discern the presence and breakthrough of the Kingdom of God, and as that happens, been asking myself and others, “What is God saying to me here? And, what am I going to do about it?” These two questions, of course, change us from spectators into participants in God’s reign (kingdom). As we ask these questions in a deliberate and thoughtful manner we are better able to see God’s kingdom more often, and more regularly are given the opportunity to participate in God’s work in others’ lives. That is a far better option than yelling expletives, or seeking to shut down people’s praise.
The reign of God has been established by Jesus’ death and resurrection. He is still at work in the world today. What do you see today that would move you to listen for God’s voice; and as you discern his kingdom’s presence, what will you do about it?