Prayers Versus Expectations.

So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:5-10)

Peter and John did not say to one another, “Let’s go pray for the lame man who sits at Gate Beautiful.” The men were simply going to afternoon prayer with the rest of the community.

It seems that no one in the faith community was expecting the lame man to be healed. In Acts 3:8-10, we read that when the healed man walked into the temple courts with Peter and John, the crowd responded with amazement and astonishment. The only recorded praise in the chapter is attributed to the three people involved in the miracle: Peter, John, and the lame man.

How sad to see a praying community, in the face of a miracle, offering no word of thanks to God.

In Acts 3:11 through 4:22, we see that Peter and John had to explain their actions to both the praying community and the religious leadership. Even more disturbing is the fact that the leaders’ response was to tell Peter and John to stop healing people in the name of Jesus. As Pastor Sam noted in Sunday’s sermon, it seems there was a preference for maintaining “structural dependence on the religious system”—Stay sick, you lame man. Stay dependent on us. We don't expect you to improve.

I wonder if we, in spite of our prayer life, walk through our days with no real expectation of participating in the miraculous works of God.

I wonder if we, in spite of our alleged love for worship, fail to give praise and glory to God when we see a demonstration of His power.

I wonder if we, in spite of our knowing our own need for God’s healing, will not be His agents of healing to others who are “lame” according to the world’s system.

Lord, You have shown us a praying community in Acts 3, but it seems they were caught off guard when You acted. Help us to live our days expecting to experience Your Presence and Your power. Order our steps! Re-order our schedules! We, like Peter and John, will always be available to You. We pray. We expect.