Blessed simplicity (Acts 3:1-10)

 
Luke had just described how the church carried out their “worship service” (Acts 2:12: doctrine, fellowship, communion, and prayer). Now he records a story that illustrates how they went about living out this new life made possible the aid of the Spirit. And the first thing that Luke records is the healing of the lame man who used to sit at the entrance of the temple courts begging for money. When he made a request of the disciples, Peter informed him that the two of them didn’t have any money, but would give him what they could – and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And walk he did, mentioned 4 times in the next 3 verses, and even did some jumping (v. 8), all the time “praising God “ (vv. 8, 9). Now that was a good Sunday afternoon, was it not?
         Several things are worthy of note but first it will be helpful to back up one paragraph to review Luke’s description of worship in the first decade of the Christian church. At the center were some copies of letters written by the apostles. They circulated somewhat but you would be fortunate to have in your church one actually penned by Paul, for instance. So the believers “devoted themselves to what they had learned from the apostles. Then they met on a regular basis to share experiences and to learn from one another. They celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by partaking of the bread and wine that represented the body and blood of Christ. Then of course there was prayer, both private and communal. Long before the era of exquisite cathedrals and ornate religious ceremony there was the founding church with its simplicity of doctrine and ceremony. What a wonderful uncluttered way to worship God.
         But moving on to the healing of the lame beggar we notice several things. When he asked for money Peter and John were ready to give to him something far more valuable. He wanted money they gave him a renewed body and spirit. Now he need not sit and beg but could work like everyone else and enjoy the self-respect of taking care of himself. Another thing I notice is how jubilant he was. He “jumped to his feet,” went into the temple court “walking and jumping,” all the time “praising God” (v. 8). Before his contact with God through Peter and John, the beggar’s feet and ankles were too weak to support his weight. But now they are strong and allow him to go everywhere praising God. And the result of that?  Others at the temple “were filled with wonder and amazement” (p. 10). Genuine excitement about what God has done for you tends to excite those around you. Some things are just to good not to be shared.
         It looks like the answer is a simple form of authentic worship spilling over into a fruitful impact on others who recognizing their “lameness” want to be healed both for the joy of it and for its buoyant effect on others.