Most of you are familiar with the episode when Peter and John (Jesus’ disciples) heal a lame beggar at one of the gates of the temple (Acts 3).

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The Bible says that the man was lame from birth (Acts 3:2), so he depended upon people’s charity to live. He even depended upon them to carry him to the temple gate, he couldn’t do it himself.

That was probably one of the best spots in town for a beggar. Lots of people coming and going to the temple, and religious people were probably more inclined to help a beggar.

It started as just another regular day. When the beggar saw Peter and John passing by, he did what he was so used to do, he asked them for money. He never thought that his life would never be the same again.

Peter, full of boldness from the Holy Spirit, looked at him and 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.” (Acts 3:6).

The man stood up and started walking and jumping up and down, praising God for that unexpected miracle. Everyone around was amazed because they knew the beggar, they were used to see him everyday for so many years.

From his reaction when he was cured, the beggar was ecstatic. And we couldn’t expect any less. But if he stopped for a moment and thought about his new condition, he would have realized that he probably would have a hard time paying for his next meal.

Being lame from birth, he certainly didn’t have a profession or a training that would allow him to work for a living. He earned money by begging, but now everything changed. He was no longer lame, he was cured. The one thing he knew how to do, begging, was not an option anymore.

So he would have to make a new start.

The Bible doesn’t give us any specifics about what happened to him afterwards, but it seems that he became a believer in Jesus Christ. And the Bible makes it clear that all believers shared everything so no one would want for nothing.

If this man joined the believers, he would have nothing to worry about.

What if this episode happened today? Is there a possibility that the beggar might have asked Peter to undo the miracle? You know, given the economic situation and how he wasn’t used to work, and now would have to look for a job with no experience, maybe it would be better to keep things as they were, and turn him back into a lame.

Or do you think that the church nowadays would embrace him and take care of his needs, like the first century church did to all its members?

I’d rather think that, along with the cure, the beggar received an unshakeable faith, and he had realized that God would take care of him, no matter how.

Don’t lose your miracle out of fear of the unknown or fear of losing your sense of security. God has already planned everything. You might have to work harder, but it will be better than it is now, for sure.

Just trust Him.