Do you want to get well?

A simple question. If only the answer could be so simple. Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of John, encounters a man who has been an invalid for 38 years -- longer than I have been alive. Jesus asks the man his simple question, but instead of "yes" the man begins to make excuses... "I have no one to help me," "I am too slow getting in the pool," "someone else always gets in before me." Thankfully, Jesus gets beyond the excuses and hears the man's heart, "YES, but..." The man wants to be healed, but simply did not see a way out of his situation, except for the waters at the pool of Bethesda. His focus on this one "answer" blinded him from seeing THE answer. He could see no other alternative.

How often do I miss what God wants to do in my life, my family, my church-family, simply because I can't see. I think I know the answer and if Jesus would just lower me into the pool, before anyone else gets in, then all would be well. The pool is not the answer, Jesus is the answer, Jesus is my answer. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20). Thankfully Jesus sees beyond what I see and Jesus can accomplish more than I can accomplish--more than I can ask, more than I can even imagine!

Popular posts from this blog

Sabbatical Day 1

My six-week sabbatical begins today. It is strange to think that I won't be back in the office for over a month. The Potomac District , in its effort to plant new churches and rejuvenate plateauing congregations is encouraging the pastors of the district to occasionally take time to rest. Each year the District approves a certain number of sabbaticals. Of course, ministers can take a break any time they like, but with District approval comes funds to help pay for some travel during the time off. The meeting that this sabbatical was approved the board changed the district's sabbatical guidelines. Under the former guidelines, the District has certain expectations of its ministers on sabbatical. To the best of my memory, some of those guidelines are as follows: ministers should take at least four consecutive weeks off ministers should not preach for at least two of those weeks in a row two weeks of the sabbatical should be used for a family vacation the minister should spend time...
Read more

Who told you...?

Again this morning, I am amazed at the spiritual blindness of some. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 5, Jesus has just healed a man who has been an invalid for 38 years. Now that he is healed, Jesus tells him to pick up his mat (he used it to regularly lie in wait by the pool at Bethesda) and go home. This man has not been able to do such a thing in 38 years. It is a miracle. However, there is a problem. The day all this happened is a Sabbath and people are not supposed to work on the Sabbath -- this man is breaking the law by carrying his mat. The religious leaders of the day scold the man for his actions and he tells them, "The man who healed me told me to pick up my mat and go home." The leaders respond, "Who told you to pick it up and walk?" They completely overlook the healing. They skip over the miracle -- this man has not been able to walk for 38 years and today he is walking!! These religious leaders are so offended by the man's actions that they ...
Read more