More Than You Bargained For

Teresa Poucher

 

 

  Don’t you love it when you get more than you bargained for?  It seems we are often looking to buy something, and it ends up costing more.  You buy a car — you mean it doesn’t have floor mats?  I like it when they fill it up with gas and give you free oil changes.  Maybe you went on a cruise, and they upgraded your room – sweet.

 

When we go to Acts 3:2, “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple…”

 

He was expecting something alright. He was looking for money, perhaps some food. Well, Peter and John didn’t have any silver or gold, but they had a relationship with Jesus. They knew Him as a healer, savior, and friend. They knew a name above every name. “…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:6-8)

 

Here, this man was outside the temple, asking of those who were going in. We know one couldn’t do priestly service in the temple if he were lame or blind. However, we read in Matthew 21:14, “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.”

 

  Why wasn’t he in the temple?  Didn’t have an offering? Or maybe he thought his clothes weren’t good enough. Come on, what kind of excuses do we hear today?  “I don’t have time,” “I have to work,” or “They are hypocrites; they just want my money.”

 

  The lame man had time; he couldn’t work, and he didn’t have money.  As far as hypocrites are concerned, Jesus’ handpicked his disciples — one betrayed him; another denied him.  

 

  The lame man went near expecting to receive, and he did.  He got more than what he bargained for.  What will happen if we go to give an offering with praise, worship, and singing. Shouldn’t we also expect to receive?  Yes, let’s go. Give and receive more than what we bargained for. 

 

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Advertisement