| Musings of Nicanor Tamang |
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Peter and John focused on the Lord Jesus Christ in healing the lame man. “In the name of Jesus” the lame man was healed in public. Our evangelism and act of mercy must always acutely focus only on Jesus Christ and no one else and nothing else. Peter and John acknowledged the material limitation. The church was not rich in materials but greatly rich in spiritual matter. Today our churches particularly many of the Western churches cannot say we do not have silver and gold but neither can they say to a lame man in the name of the Lord Jesus rise up and walk. Peter and John had time for the poor rejected lame man who was nothing but nuisance for those who came to worship in the temple. We must invest our time on people rather than on programme and project. It does not mean we should not be involved in projects but we must realize that primary focus of our ministry has to be the individuals who is in need. Peter saw the real need of the lame man rather than the felt need. The beggar wanted money (this was his felt need but Peter saw the real need- the need to get up and walk). We live in a world of hunger and want and as a church it is so easy to scurry around trying to solve the worldly needs of the people. We know there is more spiritual poverty which needs to be addressed first. This way many times we deal with the root cause of the problem and the person or a society has a greater chance to come out of poverty for ever. Peter was willing to be personally involved and empower the lame man. To me ministry means people and people are many times real pain and nuisance yet we are called to be among the people rather than sanitized ourselves from the contacts of the people. The result of the healing was there for all to see and what a radical change. The Bible says “ Now his whole life is reoriented and revolutionalized. Once he was poor but now he has a chance to have decent income. Once he was despised but now he can have dignity. Once he was resigned to his fate but now he knows change is possible. Once he lived in hopelessness but now he has hope Once he was without friends but now he has Peter and John as friends. Once he was helpless but now he can help himself Once he was dependent but now he can even help others. Once he was joyless now he is walking and leaping with joy. Once he could not go into the temple but now he can go into the temple ‘praising God.” The incident has a lot of lessons to learn as to how we do mission and hope this little lesson has helped you. These are some of the thoughts came tumbling down as I meditated and I am sure you will have your own perspective as you study this passage. If you are a preacher why not make this your sermon in the coming days with the intention of blessing the people of God. Prayer: Lord, forgive me that many times I have neglected the needy and downtrodden. Help me to be the sensitive of the people around me as I go about doing my business in this world. May I see the lame, the blind and the weak while being busy in the humdrum of my life and see in some small way how I can help them with the healing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Newer...
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jaimashi
written by durga bdr thada magar,nawal parasi,now bahrain , May 26, 2008 dear sir nicanor tamang jaimashi tapailai. dherai dherai khushi lagyo tapai haruko website visit garna payekoma,saathai tapaiharuko churchko barema ra tapaiko hijtoryharu padhna pauda ma aafalai ati bhagyamani thandachhu,parbhule ajhai dherai dherai aasisharu diun bhandai antama tapaiharuko harek karyaharu ma parbhule aasis diun amen. report abuse
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