There is a story in the book of Acts of Peter and John. They are making their way to the temple, at the hour of prayer, when they have an encounter with a lame man who has been sitting at the gate as a beggar.
This is one of those stories that maybe we have heard more times than once and have already sifted through and found personal applications that we can take and run with. However, because the word of God is living and active and the Holy Spirit is at work, we must never grow tired of reading the stories of scripture, even if we have already found something to take from the passage.
“One-day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:1-10
This was during a time of adjustment and transition because the break from Judaism did not come in an instant. Approaching the temple, as John and Peter did, would no longer be a practice for those of us who have had a full revelation of what the New Testament teaches. Now, we have full access to the throne of grace through the person of Jesus and prayer is something we can enter into never being hindered by location. Despite all of this, there is a theme here. Peter, John, and every other person making their way to the temple were going to partake in a spiritual event.
From the text, this is what we know. Day in and day out the man sat by the gate asking for help and as he sat there people walked by as they made their way to the temple to pray. I wonder how many times the same people walked by. What we are doing for God, can never dismiss the responsibility we have to people. The destination cannot blind us from seeing people along the way.
We have a twisted mindset that the place where we honor God the most is within the walls of the church or in settings that are deemed spiritual experiences. Attending church has far less precedence than being the church. You look at the fivefold ministry in Ephesians that reveals to us that the prophets, teachers, apostles, evangelist, and shepherds, were given with one intention in mind “for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Peter and John could have done what everyone else had done up until this point. They could have walked by, unwilling to be interrupted, and let entering into a place of prayer be their personal security that they would be seen right in the eyes God.
It is almost as if Peter and John stopped because it was what they had seen Jesus do time after time. Jesus never once let the law keep Him from people – healing on the Sabbath, dining with the sinners, touching the sick. The people of the church were His focus. He would dismiss the law, knowing full well how it would be viewed, for the sake of people, but I also think for the sake of us having an example to follow.
Here and now, also coming to mind is the story of the Samaritan man in the gospel of Luke. The Priest and the Levite, both affiliated with religious duties, walked past the man in need. It is a tragedy for the people of God to ever be considered the ones who walk past the ones in need, yet it happens more than it should.
This weekend – I am hosting an event for high school girls and speaking at my church on Sunday. Both are good things both are honoring to the Lord. However, last night was a reminder to me. The events of last night were of just the same caliber of importance as everything else I was partaking in this weekend.
A high school girl called me at 11 PM, for her privacy and to respect her, I will not share details. In short, she needed me to come pick her up and take her home. She sent me an address and there I went in my pajamas on a 45-minute drive. I pulled back into my driveway at 1 am last night and the Holy Spirit kindly reminded me that the last three hours mattered just as much to Him as the next 48 would. There was no worship set, there was no sermon taught, but it was a moment of realization that we could get to the end of our days and only be known as the people who attended the events and never partook in partnering with the ministry of Jesus. Be the church don’t just go to church.
We have failed this hurting world if our aim lies in only being known as “people of God.” To be content with people only knowing us as “they go to church” is to never rise to our full potential.
Yes, I want you to be known as people of God. Yes, I want you to be known as someone who goes to church. But I want you also be known as someone who is willing to answer the late night phone calls without asking a ton of questions. I want you to be known as someone who will show up. I want you to be known as someone who will stop along the way and bring people along with you. I want you to be known as someone who recognizes that people need us to see them and we will never see them if our eyes are locked on next event/gathering we are attending.
I want us to be the Peter and John’s in the story. The people who stopped and realized where they were going was somewhere the man needed to go too.
Peter and John picked the man up and took him with them into the temple. Go reread how the story ends: Peter and John bring the man into the temple and the man enters into praise. Those around stand in awe and amazement of what has been done. On display, the power and work of Jesus, that is the end goal – for Jesus to be seen and known.
All because Peter and John stopped and brought someone with them. They didn’t just go they gathered people along the way to bring alongside of them.
Who are you bringing with you?
