Rise up and walk!

Acts 3:2-8, 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.

These men walked by faith and not by sight. The lame man had been that way for his whole life, over forty years. Peter and John did what Jesus did; they heard what the Father wanted to do and affirmed it. How much harder it is for us to hear, with constant entertainment from CDs, satellite, TV to say nothing of twitter, Facebook, email, texting, voice mail and hand-held devices. No wonder Alexander Graham Bell refused to have a telephone installed in his home, for he understood the value of silent contemplation. Are we too busy to see and hear what the Father wants to do?

Give us ears to hear your voice, and to affirm what you want to do by faith, O Lord!

ESV Lectionary