Today’s Reading: John 5:1-9
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’”
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There was a certain paralyzed invalid who sat by the pool at Bethsaida for 38 years. Imagine enduring this condition for 38 years! That’s longer than many people in that day lived.
He was like many other blind, lame, and paralyzed people gathered around the pool. They believed that if one of God’s angels from heaven were to descend to earth and stir the water, whoever entered the pool first would be healed immediately.
Supernaturally, Jesus knew that he’d been sitting by the pool for a very long time—just like he knows all that is occurring in everyone’s life. There is nothing hidden from him. He is omniscient over everything in the universe—and what’s happening in every person’s heart.
Jesus knows what’s in your heart today as well. He knows the places where your heart is paralyzed. He knows your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. You cannot hide them from him. Before you confess your sins to him, he knows of them. His grace and forgiveness are available to you even before you ask for them.
Jesus asked this invalid by the pool a very important question: Do you want to be healed? Sadly, many don’t want to be healed—even those who are unhappily hurting. They enjoy wallowing in their weakness. In some cases, it even becomes their identity. They have no problem carelessly meandering down the most dangerous path imaginable: the path of least resistance. They allow their indolent flesh to rule them—never taking the smallest step toward emotional, spiritual, mental, or physical health.
Is this you? Do you want to be healed? Or are you satisfied in self-pity, mesmerized in mediocrity, ruled by the lusts of your flesh?
If you are ready to be healed inwardly, take one small step toward Jesus. Refuse to remain in your present condition. Speak these words to your heart: “I want to be healed. I want to be made well. Today is my first step toward breaking my addiction, solving this problem, and changing my life’s mess. Today, I choose to be well!”
If you make this decision and move toward the Lord, he promises he will be there to meet you. He will walk with you. He will give you the strength and courage you need for the next step. And the next one. And then the next one.
To the faithful, God shows himself faithful. He shows his unfailing love to those who walk in devotion to him. His faithfulness endures as the world he created. The mountains may move or the hills disappear, but God’s faithful love will remain.
God is faithful. He can make you well. But remember: It all begins with your desire to be made well. Then you’ll be able to take the next steps. These little steps, over time, eventually lead to a long, successful journey.
And you will arrive at his desired destination of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health for you.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]