The Gate Beautiful

In the book of Acts, chapter three, a story unfolds:

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.  And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.”

A begging man at the beautiful gate - such irony.  How many people had seen that same man, day after day?  Did anyone ever speak to him or did they just put their alms in his palms?  Until Peter and John came on the scene, we can only imagine how many days and weeks and months and years he had been brought to this same spot.  Peter and John were headed for a prayer meeting.  A man was begging.  And they stopped. 

And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said: ‘Look at us!’  And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!’  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened. And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”

This particular day started as such an ordinary one for this “certain man.”  That is, until the Gate Beautiful became just that – a beautiful gate; the entrance to a new life.  Soon afterwards, Peter and John were thrown in jail.  Not because the man was healed, but because they were preaching the gospel; because they went on to tell people that they had put to death the Prince of Life, whom God had raised from the dead.  They preached about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

I find myself, by times, begging at the Gate Beautiful, when the Lord has already brought me into His sanctuary.  New life in Christ means just that- new life IN Christ.  No more days and weeks and months and years searching, yearning, hoping for someone to fill my cupped hands with something of great value.   

And there are times when I find myself walking past those whose hearts are aching with the pressures of life and the guilt of sin; hands outstretched.  

Lord, may I give them something of great value - your gospel.  

May I point them to you - the Gate Beautiful.