From Begging To Worshiping
February 2, 2022·Cruz Contreras
The start of the Book of Acts is such an incredible moment. The disciples do as Jesus asks and are filled with the Holy Spirit! The Church grew so much at that point. This week, I found myself reflecting on chapter 3 of Acts:
“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’ Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”
Acts 3:1-8 (NLT)
Here this man is, outside of the church begging. I can’t help but think, how often do I go to church begging? Not for money, but maybe my begging is filled with, “God, I need this…” or “I need that…” or Fix this…” It’s not an issue to come to Him in this way, because we can come together and freely bring our struggles to the Lord. But I like how Peter and John resolve this: They don’t give him any money, which was what he was begging for, and instead they ask the Holy Spirit to bring healing to his body. What a miracle, right?
Maybe that was it! What he really needed was the full complete healing of his body. Look at what he does with his healed body, that he didn’t ask for. The passage says, “Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.” He was able to go to church and praise Jesus fully. This beggar had gone to church, pleading for money over and over again, yet he might have been missing what the Church is for. Maybe the first and most important thing that needs to be aligned in our lives is our worship and praise to God. That leaping in joy, excitement, and pure honor to God.
Prayer is essential and powerful, but what are our prayers like? Because, church, I don’t want to be just a beggar, I want to be a worshiper of God and see how my life is influenced by His presence.
Pastor Cruz Contreras
