Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.”

Jesus’ gifts changed the lame man’s life in two ways. Most obvious is the change to his temporal life, his earthly state. In an instant he goes from being a cripple to a man who can walk and jump. This was no slow process of healing and physical therapy. He didn’t have to suffer through surgery, wait for the cast to come off, spend months doing special exercises. The feet and ankles not only became strong. He instantly knew how to use them, though he had been crippled from birth.

You or I probably aren’t going to receive a miracle on this scale. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been receivers of Jesus’ mercy on our lives or haven’t been blessed as Christians in the way he cares for our physical needs each day. Who knows what tragedies he has kept away? Look at the standard of living the poorest of us enjoy compared to most people through most of time. As believers who know Jesus’ grace and mercy, we have been given tools to cope with the curve balls life does throw at us, faith that can offer us less stress and more contentment right now without changing the externals at all.

And don’t think that Jesus’ gift to the lame man meant only changes that made his life easier. Today his feet and ankles were healed. Tomorrow he had to find a new way to support himself. He couldn’t go on begging. He would have to work, and likely that work would mean sweat and sore muscles. I suspect he was grateful for the opportunity, but being able-bodied comes with its own unpleasant features. Don’t be surprised when God’s material gifts in your life come with their own uncomfortable or unpleasant side effects. Homes and property and vehicles and even healthy bodies have to be maintained, or they aren’t so enjoyable to have and use. That maintenance can be expensive or cost us long hours of hard work. This isn’t heaven yet, no matter how the Lord blesses us here, and it is another gift of his that allows us to recognize that.

The second change Jesus’ gift brought to the lame man’s life was spiritual. It filled his life with faith-born praise. “Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.” Everyone has God’s gifts working in their lives, even all the wicked. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” Jesus pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5:45). You know that’s right. My unbelieving neighbors have lawns just as green as mine, and homes as just as comfortable.

But God gives an even greater gift when he gives us the faith to see his gifts. The crippled man, of course, had no doubt where his legs got new strength. This filled his heart and mouth with praise, praise that spilled over into the way he was walking and jumping around the temple.

Do you suppose he felt good about his gift? You know, it is hard to feel sorry for yourself, it is hard to be bitter, it is hard to complain or be depressed when your mouth is full of words and songs of praise for God. It’s not that we lack reason to praise him. It’s that we don’t take time to think about his gifts. It’s that we let our attention drift and lose awareness of his gifts. If we will only remember and consider Jesus’ gifts, then they can change our hearts as well, and we can know something like the praise and joy of the man who received new strength for his legs and feet.