Petition Condition

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. (Acts 3:1-2, NET)

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy shared with us from Acts chapter 3. In the first two verses, we are given information about three men.

-Peter and John, two of Jesus’s disciples, went to the temple to pray.

-An unnamed third man, who was born lame, was brought to the temple courts to beg.

These men were in the vicinity of the temple at the time of the evening sacrifice. It was a time of the day when it was common for the people of Israel to offer prayers to God. We see this alluded to in Psalm 141:2: “May my prayer be established, rising up like incense before You; may the uplifting of my hands be like an evening offering.”

Peter and John had established a routine of petitioning God.

The lame man had established a routine of petitioning people.

What is our routine? Who are we petitioning for help? Who do we expect to supply the needs we have every day?

Lord God, You are the only One who can supply all that I truly need. As I go through my days, for every day that You give me life, please grant me the grace to look to You and to petition You in prayer.