At A Gate Called Beautiful!

Good morning to all on this beautiful Sunday morning. The cold weather has finally hit Georgia. It's in the low 50's this morning but Waine and I have been able to have a relaxing  morning at home. No planes to catch. No "rounds" to make. Just chillin' at home. I am coming to look forward to and appreciate these quiet days at home. Had a nice dinner with Aleron last night before he started his night shift at the hospital. Its good to be friends with your children.

 

I am continuing my journey in Acts 3 verses 1-26 " One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.  When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to let Him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

 

Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,  and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.  Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you. Anyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from their people.Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’When God raised up His servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways. Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the hearing and reading of His Word.

 

At a gate called Beautiful is where the beggar sat. He was not able to go inside of the court because he was not able to walk. He had to rely on the kindness of others at the gate called Beautiful. The beggar could see all the marvelous things going on inside the gate; he could smell all the wonder aromas of the foods being offered for sale; he could hear the laughter of the people who were enjoying themselves--if only he could walk into the court yard, beyond the gate called Beautiful.

 

This is how I see the people in the world. They are sitting at the gate to eternity because they are weak and begging. They were born to be sons and daughters of the King but sit at the gate because they do not accept the free gift that if offered to them which is the salvation which comes through Jesus the Christ, the Messiah who has been sent so that we don't have to sit at the gate. Unlike the beggar in the 3rd chapter of Acts, they don't take the right hand of fellowship that is offered to them through Christ; they sit and beg. Oh how much more abundance is in store for them if they would just take what Christ offers which is unconditional love. There is no need for any man or woman to sit at the gate of eternity and beg. Begging will not help them or any of us. Once we cross the River Jordan the gate will be closed. Our lives are to be a witness just as the beggar's life was. He was so excited about his healing he had to tell everyone. No pretense; he just had to tell everyone he was healed. How many lives would be won to Christ today if Christians showed that type of joy.  How many others will be left at the Gate called Beautiful because we are hiding our light.  Let your light and joy shine today so others may come to know and love the God that never holds anything against us. He offers passage through the Gate.

To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie