Belonging - Day 18
John 5:8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
We want Jesus to talk to us. We pray for this, we hope that we will someday hear his voice and understand his will. But what I have noticed is that when Jesus talks, when he gives us commands, he often makes it simple enough to understand, and hard enough to make it impossible for us.
It is impossible for us, until he makes it possible.
The command that Jesus gave to this man was not only impossible, but took a great deal of faith to even understand. He had not walked for 38 years. I imagine that his legs were atrophied and essentially useless. Somehow, through the power of Christ, this man would be able to walk, be able to stand, and be able to do things he had not done in almost 4 decades.
This request was ridiculous, unless it came from someone who could make all of this happen. The good news is that the request comes from someone who had the access to all of heaven's power. IT makes the request no less ridiculous, but it also makes the outcome a foregone conclusion. All this man would have to do is have faith in the one who issued the command, and therefore, everything would be changed. The question becomes, then, will he do it?
This is the question we are asked every day as believers. Will you stand up and walk? Will you go where God is asking you to go, even if it seems impossible. Will you change your life, will you belong, will you move in a different direction than you thought you could? Will you pick up your mat and walk? Walk away from the things that are holding you back, your sickness, your disease, your frustration, sadness, and those things that block your progress in Christ?
It takes a leap of faith, a willingness to do the impossible, a simple answer to the command that was given to you to make this happen. Get up, take up that mat and simply walk away from all that hinders you and holds you back.
Wouldn’t it be great if things really worked that easily for us? Just get up and walk away?
Here is the thing, it might not be that simple, but it starts that simply. It starts by simply following the commands of Christ and believing that we belong to him as a Child of God. We start the journey of 1000 miles with one simple step. Of course, healing is hard for us, but the first step is to trust that God believes in us enough to give us this command.
We want Jesus to talk to us. We pray for this, we hope that we will someday hear his voice and understand his will. But what I have noticed is that when Jesus talks, when he gives us commands, he often makes it simple enough to understand, and hard enough to make it impossible for us.
It is impossible for us, until he makes it possible.
The command that Jesus gave to this man was not only impossible, but took a great deal of faith to even understand. He had not walked for 38 years. I imagine that his legs were atrophied and essentially useless. Somehow, through the power of Christ, this man would be able to walk, be able to stand, and be able to do things he had not done in almost 4 decades.
This request was ridiculous, unless it came from someone who could make all of this happen. The good news is that the request comes from someone who had the access to all of heaven's power. IT makes the request no less ridiculous, but it also makes the outcome a foregone conclusion. All this man would have to do is have faith in the one who issued the command, and therefore, everything would be changed. The question becomes, then, will he do it?
This is the question we are asked every day as believers. Will you stand up and walk? Will you go where God is asking you to go, even if it seems impossible. Will you change your life, will you belong, will you move in a different direction than you thought you could? Will you pick up your mat and walk? Walk away from the things that are holding you back, your sickness, your disease, your frustration, sadness, and those things that block your progress in Christ?
It takes a leap of faith, a willingness to do the impossible, a simple answer to the command that was given to you to make this happen. Get up, take up that mat and simply walk away from all that hinders you and holds you back.
Wouldn’t it be great if things really worked that easily for us? Just get up and walk away?
Here is the thing, it might not be that simple, but it starts that simply. It starts by simply following the commands of Christ and believing that we belong to him as a Child of God. We start the journey of 1000 miles with one simple step. Of course, healing is hard for us, but the first step is to trust that God believes in us enough to give us this command.
- What is God calling you to today?
- How can you take that first step?
- Who do you need to help you take that first step?
Pastor Tim Gillespie and the Series Guide Writing Team
Download PDF Versions of our Series Guides
Daily Study Podcast
The Abide Daily Podcast
Thank You for Supporting the Ministry of Crosswalk
Posted in Belonging
No Comments