“Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.” Acts 3:4-5

Thank you for joining me.

I’m excited to be here reflecting on a moment that shifts the course of a man’s entire life. One encounter. One command. One choice to look up.

This man at the gate called Beautiful had grown accustomed to surviving off the generosity of others. Day after day, he was carried—physically and emotionally—by a system of dependency. To some, his condition was permanent. To others, he was a fixture of pity. But when Peter and John walked by, they didn’t see a case—they saw a calling. They didn’t offer spare change—they offered complete transformation.

When Peter said, “Look at us,” he wasn’t asking for eye contact—he was inviting the beggar to see differently. To shift his gaze from what he expected to what God intended. The man’s hand may have been outstretched for coins, but his heart was about to receive purpose.

Peter’s next words shattered the lie of limitation:

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

In that moment, every excuse the man had ever known was knocked out.

No more saying, “I’m just trying to get by.”

No more leaning on others to carry him where he couldn’t go himself.

No more hiding behind a narrative of just enough.

Peter and John didn’t just give him the ability to walk—they gave him a new lens for life. He would have to think differently, move differently, live differently. His identity as a beggar was gone, and that meant his routine, his posture, his relationships, and even his requests would have to change.

The man jumped up, walked, and entered the temple courts—walking, leaping, and praising God. That’s what happens when the Kingdom meets you at your lowest and calls you into wholeness.

But make no mistake—he still had a choice. Yes, he was healed. But now he had to learn how to live.

Faith in Action

Has God already knocked out your excuses—but you’re still living like you need permission to rise?