"Give what you have in the name of Jesus: It will make someone dance!"

      One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

      My name is Itzak. I used to be lame, but now I am not. I used to be looked down upon, but now I am not. I used to be outcast, but no more. Everything changed for me one afternoon. It was an afternoon like almost every afternoon since I can remember. Sol and Jude dragged me to the central city, like they always did, on my stinking mat. They would carry me when it rained, but this particular afternoon it was sunny and bright.

      Even though it was mid-afternoon, the sun bounced off the gate where they set me down. The brass columns and the ornate carving of this beautiful gate nearly blinded us with its golden glare. You'd think you'd get used to the beauty of the thing, but you don't.

      I lay in my usual spot. I watched the pious enter for afternoon prayer. Hundreds of the faithful poured in and out of the temple; there were plenty of people to beg from.

      Usually I collect enough to scrape by on. I've been doing this so long I know many of them by sight. Some of the usual patrons passed me by; a few coins clattered at my feet.

      Then I saw them approach, two men, two faces deep in conversation.

      "Hey guys, can you spare a dime?"

      It's amazing how most people are so skilled at avoiding my glance, but these guys were different. They stopped and stared at me. Their eyes burned through me, their gaze almost as bright as the gate's Corinthian brass. I shuddered.

      "Don't you know it's rude to stare at a cripple?"

      "Look at us!" one of them said.

      "Oh, this is gonna be a good one," I thought. I'd do well today. I looked up at them, an eager grin plastered all over my face.

      "We don't have any spare change."

      Oh. That's what most people say, but they don't usually go out of their way to stare me down to say it.

      "We don't have any cash, but we do have something even better."

      "Huh? Right. What's better than cash?"

      "In the name of Jesus. . ."

      "Wait a second. Jesus? Isn't that the criminal? That guy who was condemned and executed not that long ago? That Jesus?"

      "Yes.  The same one.  In the name of Jesus, get up and walk!"

      "Yeah, right."

      Then, I felt something---like a shock---go through my body. It was terrifying!

      And this guy, I think later he said his name was Peter, grabbed me by the hands and pulled me up. He was strong. His grip was powerful, commanding.

      All of a sudden I was strong! My feet and ankles supported me! I started screaming and yelling, jumping up and down, dancing like a madman! Everyone around me was pretty shocked, too, and they started murmuring, but even more. They started yelling; the crowd went wild.

      I followed these two guys into the Temple. I was afraid to leave them. I thought I might lose my footing if they left my sight. I wanted to know what was going on, I definitely wanted to hear more about this Jesus. I followed them into the Men's Court---I set foot in there for the very first time---and I listened to what they had to say about Jesus of Nazareth.

      A lot happened to me that day. Yes, I could walk, but there was more to it than that.

      I learned something I will never forget. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the person of Jesus. There is power in the presence of Jesus, and it was this power I felt. Somehow, even though Jesus wasn't there, He was THERE.

      My life is forever changed because of Jesus. I can work for the first time in my forty years. I am allowed to worship inside the Temple for the first time in my life. I am no longer crippled, longer outcast. People no longer look down on me with disgust.

      And this is what I have to tell you.

      Give what you have in the name of Jesus.

      Go to the Temple at the time of prayer, and give what you can give.

      Go to the Temple with all your needs. Some need to give. Others need to be healed. Most need both, to give and to be healed, to be healed and to give. The Temple has a way of focusing you on what's crucial.

      You may say, "I don't believe in miracles." You may say, "This is impossible! This can't happen to me." You may even say "No way can I be a channel of God's grace." But I am here to tell you, you can. You can and you must. Because there are so many needs, and the world needs you to do what you can. When you do this, Jesus will strengthen you.

      Since that amazing day I have learned this: If we do what we can, God will give us the grace to help us to do what we cannot.

      Go to the Temple, past the beautiful gate. Even if you are an outsider, go. Even if you feel unworthy, go. Even if your faith is puny, go.

      Go to the Temple and give what you have.

      Dig deep into your pockets, dig even deeper into your soul. Dig into your heart and see what Jesus lays upon it.

      Go to the Temple and lay yourself down.

      Go to the Temple---make your needs known.

      You will be surprised at who you meet. You will be amazed at how you are changed. Give all you can in the name of Jesus. It just might make someone dance.

      It reminds me of what my favorite prophet Isaiah said, in the good book,

Then the eyes of the blind
will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf will be cleared.
Then the lame will leap like the deer,
and the tongue of the speechless
will sing. (Isaiah 35:5-6)

      My name is Itzak. I used to be lame, but now? Now, I can dance.