Butterflies - 3

“The Lame Man”

Acts 3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

In the passage of God’s word we have been examining, Acts 3:1-11. We have considered our lives like that of the butterfly. This is a miracle of transformation. We were transformed from the ugly, to something beautiful. From being bound to the pointless things of this world, to the mind blowing heights of God’s glory.

We then looked at the “Place” where we find the Lame man. It was just in sight of, but outside the Beautiful Gate. We were reminded of the wonderful place that has already been prepared for us through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. We try to let this truth mold our perception of life as God wants us to see it. What limit does the Christian have in this world? With the promise found in Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”, and his promise in John 14:13-14 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” From these two verses, we are told that God is able to do above anything we can even imagine, and then, all we have to do is ask, and he will do it. So I ask again, why do we, who are such privileged people, why do we still crawl around on the ground as a hairy worm, instead of flying in the heights of God’s love and care, and power?

The verse I used for the header of this study, shows the “Butterfly” aspect of this lame man’s life. Just like in my life, all the bad things I allowed, and chose to do, Those things became who I was to the world of people around me. But when I was saved, it was not long after, that these same ones wondered with amazement that this man is a “Christian”. I was changed, my heart was changed, my desires were changed, and my actions were changed. Over the years of being a Christian, I have had to choose, whether to crawl on the ground like a worm, or fly in the heights of God’s power, love, joy, and his peace.

We can learn a lot from this Lame Man. He was not just a “Bible Person” that just happened to be here for the star characters in this story, Peter and John, to do their miracle on. This lame man was on God’s heart, and God sent his servants to help change the perception this man had on life.


First, we learn, he was lame from birth. What could he do about that? We hear the same thing from people today. I am sick, I ache, I am tired, I am so poor, and, I just am not able to serve God in my condition. So, many people with a perception of life based on the dreary things in their lives, the hopeless state of things financially, and the plain old lack of material things, they find themselves laying at the gate, just like this man, watching the people go by, talking to one another, about life, and business, and things happening in their lives, and things that God is doing in them. Then, as the people come out from that gate, this lame man, along with all those that see life through only their pain and sorrow, see the Joy, and hope, and purpose in the faces of all those that have entered, and experienced the wonderful things inside.

Second, we see that he being a son of Abraham, he was qualified to enter the gate, it was where God wanted him to be. But he went to that gate with another purpose, not to be close to God, and experience his great power and glory, but to beg for money. To get material gain from all those that come and go there. The same is true with many of us, we go to church, and if we were honest, it really is not to be close to God, to experience the joy his presence brings, but it is for some other reason, and the reasons can be many, not just to get material gain from all those that are there, though that too can be a reason, maybe it is to get the sympathy from others for our pain or horrible circumstance. But we leave, just as empty as we were when we came. And again, we have to ask, is this joy and peace only for a chosen few? Is the great victories, and powerful workings of God only for some? And the answer is obvious, No, his power is available for all his children.

Lastly, what we don’t see is an act on this lame man’s part, to enter the gate. It is Peter that drags this man to his feet. (We will look at Peter and John later). But as we read this story, we see this man look on them expecting to receive something from them, and Peter says these words: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” It was a call to change his perception of life. If we are so wrapped up in the material things of this world, and measure our quality of life, and thus our experience of joy, judging ourselves by the things we do or don’t have, or the physical condition of our bodies, then we will perceive life as hopeless, and then we will be powerless for God in this world. But Peter said, take your eyes off these material things, and get up and walk. It is here, and I have to allude to Peter for a moment, he really amazes me, but Peter grabs a hold on this man, and yanks him up to his feet, ( we will look at this later, but wow, what faith in a powerful God). One point I want to make is this, we too will hear God’s “Peter and John”, through the preacher on Sunday, the bible study on the radio, friends and family, and yes, even this Bible walkabout, and God will yank us to our feet, I know you have been there, hearing the word, inside your heart hearing his message, it is then that God has yanked us to our feet, and right then, you make a choice, to stay on your feet, to leap about, to praise God, and become a spectacle to the lost world around you… Or, you can say to yourself, I am lame man, what in the world are you doing yanking me up like that, and thus falling back to the ground, unaware of the beautiful wings God has given you, and beginning to crawl around like a worm again. But this man chose to “stand”, then to “Walk”, then to “enter”, then to “Leap” (a fool in the worlds eyes) but alive in his eyes, and perceiving Life through God’s eyes, he begins to praise him.

God wants to do great and wonderful things in your life. He wants the world all around you to see his spectacular light bursting from your life, but we have to respond to him when he yanks us up! Will you not come be a fool in this world’s eyes with me today, let us leap together, praising God anew, as he fills our heart with his joy and peace.

Stay tuned, there will be more.