What Do We “Cling” To?

Read: Acts 3:11-26

What Do We “Cling” To?

“While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s…” (v.11)

The people of God “stick together”. We “cling” to one another. It is only natural to draw close to those people and places where you encounter God. If Jesus is truly removing what “cripples'' us - AND HE IS- then we should not be surprised at the way we are drawn towards those that the Lord uses in our lives to bring freedom. As God’s “royal priesthood”, this is what we hold out for the world… and this is also how we care for one another. (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) Have you had a chance to encourage those whom you have experienced God through? Who do you “cling” to? The newly healed beggar instantly drew closer to the one who had healed him… that is Jesus in and through Peter and John. The work of God will always gather some sort of crowd… it is not always the same type of crow with the same sort of intentions… but it will always draw a crowd. This is why the work of God most often takes place “in the presence of you’all.” (cf. 3:16) God’s work, through us, in the presence of the world, drawing a crowd and drawing us as his people closer to one another… clinging to one another as we worship and praise him. This is the C/church.

So what is it that stands in the way? What causes us to “kill” the thing that could give us life? What “keeps us” from Jesus? For some, they are truly crippled - physically and/or metaphorically. For others it is something else: “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers…” (v.17) For a good deal of the world, they are acting in “ignorance”… totally unaware. This goes for rulers as well. (cf. v.17, “as did also your rulers”) It is probably not hard to convince you that there are people in leadership of all sorts that are simply ignorant. Even we, as God’s people, can function in ignorance. In a very odd way, the crippled / lame beggar was at least spared from activity fighting against God and seeking to kill Jesus. The same could not be said for the rest of the crowd that had gathered around Peter and John. It is humbling to be reminded that we too were once “ignorant” to the ways that we were “killing” Christ… the giver of LIFE! We need to be reminded of this so that we can be loving, gracious, and patient while speaking truth into an ignorant world. Not everyone even realizes how destructive they are to themselves and others. This is no excuse or justification for their actions, but a reality as to the root cause.

Jesus is as committed to bringing gentle truth as he is removing what cripples us. Jesus is working through his people to not only heal the lame, but also to graciously speak truth to those living in ignorance. I don’t know which is harder to believe in: the lame being healed / the crippled walking again or that people in their ignorance could become redeemed and informed! I am afraid I have higher hopes for the lame walking that I do for the ignorant to receive instruction. Lol. The people of God do both. This is the royal priesthood; we gently and loving bring hope and call people out of ignorance and darkness into marvelous light. The enemy traffics in lies and accusations… deception… this is the epitome of walking in ignorance and darkness. The light of Christ brings clarity and hope. Do you feel crippled? Unable to move forward? Or maybe you feel like you are doing the right thing… only to find out you are unknowingly asking for death instead of life? (Notice how they asked for a murderer instead of Jesus! cf. v.14) When we draw near to one another… stick together… cling to one another as we praise God...we will be used to bring freedom and restoration from what cripples us and bring truth that removes the ignorance and lies of Satan. May we cling to Christ. May we be patient and long-suffering as we bear with those who are ignorant. May God open our eyes to our own ignorance through his Spirit, through the scriptures, and through each other. I am sure, at the moment, those who called for Barabas instead of Jesus thought they were doing something “spiritual”… little did they know they were killing the messiah! May God save us from ourselves! Love you guys. - JDP?

“While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s…” (v.11)

The people of God “stick together”. We “cling” to one another. It is only natural to draw close to those people and places where you encounter God. If Jesus is truly removing what “cripples'' us - AND HE IS- then we should not be surprised at the way we are drawn towards those that the Lord uses in our lives to bring freedom. As God’s “royal priesthood”, this is what we hold out for the world… and this is also how we care for one another. (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) Have you had a chance to encourage those whom you have experienced God through? Who do you “cling” to? The newly healed beggar instantly drew closer to the one who had healed him… that is Jesus in and through Peter and John. The work of God will always gather some sort of crowd… it is not always the same type of crow with the same sort of intentions… but it will always draw a crowd. This is why the work of God most often takes place “in the presence of you’all.” (cf. 3:16) God’s work, through us, in the presence of the world, drawing a crowd and drawing us as his people closer to one another… clinging to one another as we worship and praise him. This is the C/church.

So what is it that stands in the way? What causes us to “kill” the thing that could give us life? What “keeps us” from Jesus? For some, they are truly crippled - physically and/or metaphorically. For others it is something else: “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers…” (v.17) For a good deal of the world, they are acting in “ignorance”… totally unaware. This goes for rulers as well. (cf. v.17, “as did also your rulers”) It is probably not hard to convince you that there are people in leadership of all sorts that are simply ignorant. Even we, as God’s people, can function in ignorance. In a very odd way, the crippled / lame beggar was at least spared from activity fighting against God and seeking to kill Jesus. The same could not be said for the rest of the crowd that had gathered around Peter and John. It is humbling to be reminded that we too were once “ignorant” to the ways that we were “killing” Christ… the giver of LIFE! We need to be reminded of this so that we can be loving, gracious, and patient while speaking truth into an ignorant world. Not everyone even realizes how destructive they are to themselves and others. This is no excuse or justification for their actions, but a reality as to the root cause.

Jesus is as committed to bringing gentle truth as he is removing what cripples us. Jesus is working through his people to not only heal the lame, but also to graciously speak truth to those living in ignorance. I don’t know which is harder to believe in: the lame being healed / the crippled walking again or that people in their ignorance could become redeemed and informed! I am afraid I have higher hopes for the lame walking that I do for the ignorant to receive instruction. Lol. The people of God do both. This is the royal priesthood; we gently and loving bring hope and call people out of ignorance and darkness into marvelous light. The enemy traffics in lies and accusations… deception… this is the epitome of walking in ignorance and darkness. The light of Christ brings clarity and hope. Do you feel crippled? Unable to move forward? Or maybe you feel like you are doing the right thing… only to find out you are unknowingly asking for death instead of life? (Notice how they asked for a murderer instead of Jesus! cf. v.14) When we draw near to one another… stick together… cling to one another as we praise God...we will be used to bring freedom and restoration from what cripples us and bring truth that removes the ignorance and lies of Satan. May we cling to Christ. May we be patient and long-suffering as we bear with those who are ignorant. May God open our eyes to our own ignorance through his Spirit, through the scriptures, and through each other. I am sure, at the moment, those who called for Barabas instead of Jesus thought they were doing something “spiritual”… little did they know they were killing the messiah! May God save us from ourselves! Love you guys. - JDP