forty years is a long time

​Forty years is a long time. In 1977 quarterback Tom Brady was born and Elvis died. The Apple computer went on sale and Star Wars premiered Episode IV. Jimmy Carter was president and Rocky was a hit at the box office.

No one knows how long 40 years can seem better than the lame man in Acts 3. For more than four decades he had been carried each day to the gate of the temple to beg from faithful Jews. Many passed by, a few dug deep into their pockets to find spare change, but anything more was rare and unexpected. Until that day that everything changed.

What started as a normal day—the same as every day for more than 40 years—took an unexpected turn when two strangers approached and spoke. Apostles Peter and John were walking their normal route to the temple, winding their way through the vendors and beggars strategically placed at the entrance.
When Peter said those special words, everything changed. In the sight and hearing of all, these words rang like a bell, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” The lame man leapt; he who was carried, walked. The one who had been carefully placed was now standing. Begging turned to praising!

An ordinary day turned extraordinary! This lame man hadn’t planned to meet God, but that is what happened. Jesus Christ of Nazareth invaded his comfort zone and everything changed. Just hours ago, his expectations were too low. He didn’t factor God into the picture; he just planned to live life without God.
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What would our lives look like if we expected God to participate? Do our expectations leave room for God, or is the dial-tone life we’ve come to know all we plan to experience? Let’s leave room in “today” for God to change everything!