"I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always go ahead of me."
John 5:7
John 5:7
Today we see a man, who for 38 years has longed for complete healing. It was believed an angel would come from heaven to stir the water and the person who entered the pool of Bethesda following this action would be healed. Therefore many people stayed around the pool day and night.
38 years. For 38 years this man who, in the NIV is referred to an "invalid" longed for healing. For 38 years, he waited for someone to put him in the water that had the power to heal. For 38 years, he was disappointed. Then one day, a stranger asked him question that changed his life, "Do you want to get well?"
Jesus was this stranger. When Jesus asked the question, he was forcing the man to look at Him, eye-to-eye. Commentaries suggest Jesus looked in the man's eyes and saw his great faith. I believe this to be true but also, it enabled the man to be face- to-face with the One who truly had the power to heal. As I read the man's answer, the Holy Spirit brought me face to face with a reality to why situations in my life have not be "healed." Ouch.
The man offered an excuse for why He had not been healed. He blamed his condition on others. I am not trying to seem insensitive. Hear my heart on this matter.
Many times the "healing" to our condition or "help" for our problem is right in front of us but we refuse to exercise the faith necessary to claim it as our own. (I am not supporting or refuting healing power of water. God can do miracles through many venues.) But what I am saying it that sometimes we are comfortable and have been sitting on our mat for so long that we begin to believe life is as good as it gets and we blame everyone around us for our circumstances.
Today, I believe that someone has gotten too comfortable on their mat and the Lord is saying is saying, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" Look up into His eyes, let Him see your great faith. He asking, "Do you want to get well?"
7 Comments:
Indeed Wendy, do we want to be healed? Do we want to do what it takes to "take up our mat and walk”? Do we want to do what it takes to stop sinning? This is the question Jesus also asked the man he healed when he found him in the temple, and it hit me between the eyes. I wondered why Jesus sought him out to ask him that question. In all the other cases of healing to this point, Jesus has said "your sins are forgiven" then "get up and walk" or he healed the hand or he made the blind see. Why was this one different?
Matthew Henry explains it this way:
"While those chronical diseases lasted, they prevented the outward acts of many sins, and therefore watchfulness was the more necessary when the disability was removed. Christ intimates that those who are made whole, who are eased of the present sensible punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin when the terror and restraint are over, unless divine grace dry up the fountain. When the trouble which only dammed up the current is over, the waters will return to their old course; and therefore there is great need of watchfulness, lest after healing mercy we return again to folly."
We must be watchful so that we don't return to our previous state when we get over the awe of the miraculous healing. We must be transformed and transformed permanently. I know that sometimes my memory is woefully short. I witness miraculous signs; signs of healing, forgiveness and mercy both in my own life and in the lives of others. But still I forget when faced with a new crisis. Still I don't trust God to do as He has promised. How can that be! I need to be on my face in front of God on this issue.
Today's reading was so full of great revelation! Jesus' discourse with the Pharisees in John 5:16-47 was awe inspiring! He said it in so many ways; I am the Son of God, I AM (God), I have life in me (not because of my parents, it is not a passed down life), I am given full authority to judge, I have witnesses (3); John the Baptist, my works, and the Father himself, but you don't believe... (wow)! But wait, it's not over yet! He goes on to say Moses will accuse them in front of the Father... If I were a Pharisee I would be quaking in my robes!
Lori, I agree, I want to read these passages over and over to make sure I get all I should from them! Thank you Wendy and everyone for making this such a rich journey!
Blessings,
Karen, Basel
Wendy, the whole reason I didn't write about this account today was because it touched too close to home...yet...I open up your blog and find that haunting question again, "Do you want to get well?"
My "mat" is one of fear. It has paralyzed me, making me an "invalid", disabling me and incapacitating me. It has confined me to my "mat".
Faith is an action word. Although I'd love for the Lord to just remove all fear from me, I believe the only way it will be overcome is by action. Facing those things that have me bound so tight that in just thinking of them my stomach turns :) (True confession here!)
Wendy, you wrote, "...sometimes we are comfortable and have been sitting on our mat for so long that we begin to believe life is as good as it gets..." Wendy, I know there's more to life...I know it...I hate the fear that consumes me, but I admit to doubting that I can ever truly be free of its grip this side of heaven. Not only am I on my "mat", I've placed it in the "back row" of life, literally, trying to cope better by hiding. I believe satan is using it as a stronghold to keep me from all that God desires for me. It is both my closest friend and my most hated enemy.
Wendy, your post has spoken so deeply to my heart. Tears are falling.
"Today, I believe that someone has gotten too comfortable on their mat and the Lord is saying, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" Look up into His eyes, let Him see your great faith. He is asking, "Do you want to get well?"
See my "great faith"? It's mustard seed, but it's all I've got. Praying for strength to stand, knowing in my head that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
The "safe" verse I wrote about today, was “…you were excited for a while about his message.” John 5:35 Anyone can read it on my blog if they wish, but just quickly, it takes more than enthusiasm to sustain momentum. It takes commitment. Feeling will only determine “want to”. Something deeper drives “need to”. The seed that falls can too easily be snatched, swept away, snagged or smothered. On our own, we lose our resolve. Again we need His divine power to persevere.
Calling on that divine power today. I can't stand on my own.
Joy
Wow, what a way to bring in the month of October! Thank you for the rich comments, Wendy & Karen! Again, so, so much to ponder over today.
"I can do nothing on my own...I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will" (John 5:30). Jesus depended on His Father. He listened to His Father, which makes His judgment fair.
If I could only remember, "I can do nothing on my own," oh, to always go to Him with everything. Each new crisis...I long for that permanent transformation! No matter how busy our days are, that we rather than blame others', that we would go to our Father. That we would seek His Will rather than do "our" will! What did Jesus say? "Men ought always to pray, and not to give up," Luke 18:1, & Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing," I Thes. 5:17.
As we pray throughout our day, according to His will, the wonderful and powerful Spirit inside us will lead us and guide us.
Lord, I humbly come before you, in awe. I desire to honor and exalt You, Father. Teach me to pray in every situation; thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. I'm seeking You with all of my heart and with all of my soul. I want You to be apart of all of my day, today. Amen.
Blessing dear loving ladies,
Lori - AZ
Oh precious Joy, the spirit is alive and active in You and so wanting for you to leap up and jump off of your mat! God has wonderfully made you for a purpose. He has allowed you to be fearful so that you would have to go to Him. He gives us these character traits for a reason, I believe. To show us that we can’t do it on our own. To show us that we have to lean on Him, all day long in order to fulfill the purpose He’s placed within us. Lay flat down and tell the LORD, “Humbly, LORD, I’m afraid. But, I know your power inside me is alive and active. Today, I put my faith in You. I can do all things through Christ. I’m clinging to You. Allow your Spirit to guide me and help me to obey. Today, I will not listen to the enemy’s thoughts. My mind will be captivated with thoughts of You, dear LORD."
The enemy is trying his best to keep you afraid, Joy. He’s putting in extra time with you, because he knows how deep your love for God is. He knows that you are an influentual sister! He wants you tightly wrapped to him. Sorry, this is just not going to continue! You tell him, to get behind you because you are not afraid because the LORD is with you. The Spirit will guide you. You are nestled close to Your Father who loves you and cares about You. Praying for you sweet sister!
Love you! Lori
Wendy I am so glad that is the passage that you wrote on today! It was the one that stood out to me as well. I have listened and watched Joyce Meyer for years and she always talks about this passage. Jesus is asking, "Do you REALLY want to get well??" Do we get comfortable in the way things are even though they are destructive, even though we are sick, maybe not physically, but with sin in our hearts. Or like you Joy, with something Satan has trapped us in. Fear is such a powerful feeling. Fear gripped me for years, but Joy I have found that as I face those fears with my God that I am more than an overcomer and I have done things I never thought in a million years I could do! I remember in Beth Moore's Esther there was a session on fear. I remember us talking in our discussion about our fears and how they affect our daily living. I shared with those ladies that I no longer live in fear. They were sharing their deepest fears and how they consume them at times and how they react as a result. I tell you sisters, I have faced my biggest fear and made it through with God! I faced what I thought would kill me and came out stronger and more in love with Jesus than ever before because I saw His healing power, I saw His hand in my life and how He can do the impossible. Joy, I will pray for you in this area. There is so much freedom and peace on the other side of fear! I would never be able to be all that God wanted me to be without facing my fears. It was all part of the plan.
Great insights ladies!
They have closed Will's school for the rest of the week because so many kids are out sick. His class has 6 of the 13 out yesterday. We are headed to the zoo today to spend time with my mom and enjoy this beautiful TN fall weather :)
Celebrating Christ's healing today,
Brandee, TN
I want to come back and read the rest of everyones comments but quickly I want to say AMEN!
This is such a good reminder for everyone, I know I get comfortable and make excuses about things in life. (why I can't lose that remaining 30 pounds)
Our Pastor talks about this from time to time and he says we hang on to certain parts of our life - habits, unforgiveness, anger, and other sins like a pet. He says we get so comfortable with our excuses for not changing and with the anger, unforgiveness or bad habit, that we don't know life with out them. He jokes about "Fluffy" our Pet problem that we won't offer up to God, and how Fluffy follows us everywhere we go.
Thanks for the reminder that Fluffy needs to go bye bye, that what every I want and need to do can be done but giving it to God and letting Him work through me.
Blessings everyone, I may comment again after I read all of yours.
Lynn - OR
Joy - I have battled Fear all my life, I feel your pain literally.
I conquered a big part of my fears when I realized I feared not having God in my life more than any other fear, I know that as long as I have Him - Nothing else really matters.
Do things still get to me YES - but they don't disable me anymore.
You are in my prayers.
Love ya,
Lynn
Post a Comment
Home