Later, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. ² Near Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It had five porches. ³ Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie. ⁵ One man, who had been sick for 38 years, was lying there. ⁶ Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, “Would you like to get well?”  ⁷ The sick man answered Jesus, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I’m trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me.” ⁸ Jesus told the man, “Get up, pick up your cot, and walk.” ⁹ The man immediately became well, picked up his cot, and walked.   John 5:1-9 (GW)

You would think after 38 years of being in the same position, this man would have made some attempts at getting better.  What is even sadder is many of us find ourselves in the same predicament today.  We have grown comfortable with our “issue,” just as the man by the pool.

Jesus saw the man lying there and knew he had been there a long time. Even with everyone else around, he was the one that caught Jesus’ attention.  Just as Jesus noticed the man by the pool, He also sees you.  He has not forgotten about you.  He sees your pain, your struggles, and your desire for more. He also sees what hinders you. But the question remains, will you be made whole?  When Jesus approached the man about his condition, his response was “sir, I have nobody to put me in the pool.”  Jesus told him to Get up, pick up your cot and walk.   In other words, Get up and take responsibility for your own life. The definition for walk in the Greek brings some clarity and insight to this passage.  It means to make one’s way, to progress, to make due use of opportunities, to live, regulate one’s life and conduct one’s self.  It is time to take your place in the world around you.  Get up and be who God has called you to be.

Just as Jesus spoke to the man by the pool, He is speaking to you today. You will no longer be able to use people as an excuse for not doing better. You will no longer be able to focus on what others are not doing. Neither will you be able to focus on what you do not have. God is calling attention to you now.  He is calling attention to your actions. What are you willing to do about your life now?  The responsibility for your future rests upon you.

The Lord is shaking your life at this very moment. He is rearranging and setting order to the chaos around you. You are being positioned for your place of destiny. The healing and breakthrough you are seeking lies in your obedience to His voice.  You must be actively engaged with Him in this season of your life.  The choice is now yours.  You can stay where you are, but it won’t be easy.  He is forcefully moving some of you.  If He doesn’t you won’t break free.  He is about to bring you into greater things, but you can’t get it if you are not properly positioned. 

Again, He is saying to clean up and set order to your life. Clear out the distractions and lay aside the weight that has kept you from moving freely.  Some of our situations will change instantly, but others will have to be walked out.  Prepare yourself for the journey ahead.  As you make the necessary changes, remember what Jesus shared with the man here in verse 14, “You’re well now. Stop sinning so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” Once you have been properly placed, made whole and delivered, do not go back and make the same mistakes. Remain free.

Grace and Peace to you,

Mary

@ Mary Pinckney 2013

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