“And they recognised that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what happened to him” (Acts 3:10).
For us to understand the topic very well, it will be necessary to define the key verbs therein “pleasant” and “surprise”.
Pleasant means pleasure or affording pleasure, or being in harmony with your taste or likings; while surprise means the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens. The above definition can be further illustrated when one earned a surprising package, which implies a leap over a former situation or condition of life.
Therefore, pleasant surprise gives us understanding of expression of happiness and joy over an unexpected pleasurable act that causes leap or uplift in one’s life.
In our text above, the cripple resigned to begging by his situation. He was not expecting anything more than the usual coins thrown to his begging vessel by those who came to the temple to worship. But in this particular day, Peter said: “I have neither silver nor gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (v.6).
Peter had no money, and instead gave the cripple God’s power, which was more precious than money. On the other hand, if Peter and John had possessed money and had put some of it into his bowl, he would not have been healed.
God works in a mysterious way, to perform wonders. He knows what we needs at a particular time more than we know our needs. This explains why we must be patient for God to give us what He desires to give us and not what we selfishly desire.
God’s blessing makes rich and endures, while our own desire is short-termed. God knows that ordinary blessing of money was not the real need of the cripple; but a permanent change of his health condition and state of life.
The cripple was surprisingly healed on a good day like this. Satan had made him to accept his unwanted situation in good fate, locking him out of the gate of his beautiful destiny. But God said, “I know the plans I have for you, plans of good and not of evil, to take you to an expected end” (Jer. 29:11).
While the beggar found himself at the beautiful gateway to the temple, he was denied the visible opportunity of entering into the glamour and glories of the temple. Like the fallen Israelites of old who saw the beauty of Canaan (The Promise Land), they had no access to its graceful offers.
Friends, the gate-way to heaven may be beautiful but narrow to all those who jostle to enter. Therefore, passing through the gate of heaven is not a bed of roses. Nevertheless, I pray God not to allow Satan stop you at the gate of your breakthrough in life.
Similarly, at the gate of every beautiful destiny lies many disabled actors orchestrated by Satan. But God is always on board to widely open the beautiful gate that connects you to your beautiful destiny and experience.
As the beggar focused on Peter with an expectation to receive, we should remain single-hearted and project our faith to heaven, so that God will come to our help.
Child of God, you are a product of God’s creative art; epitomised by great destiny, foisted and encompassed about by beautiful creation. This underscores the reason Satan shall not manipulate you out of your beautiful experiences in life. Your day is about to break forth. The Almighty God will not allow your journey of life to end at the gate. Though you’ve been employed to work as a gateman, like Modecai, God will promote you from being a gateman to being a governor of a state.
According to verse 10, God’s goodness in the life of the cripple brought special recognition to him from among the people. The miracle of God distinguished him and the whole people were pleasantly surprised and astonished at what happened to him. It was a scenario of pleasure as the man, who was hitherto a beggar, leaped with agility and could jump about praising God. The man was lifted not only out of physical disability, but out of depression, poverty, lack of self-worth, disrespect and distrust brought about by his situation.
In this season of the year, God is on course to pleasantly surprise you with His blessings. It will come on a day you never thought of. It will come at a time your interest is coarse into settling on little things.
God’s awesome visitation in your life this month shall bring to an end all disabilities, both physical and spiritual. It is time to leap. Your unwanted fate must give way for a working faith in God.
The manifestation of all these shall bring awe and astonishment to all who see you and they will praise God for you. The Lord will surely give you pleasant surprises.
You are the next in the line of miracles.
