Do you want to get well?

I know people who have been burdened by sin and affliction for so long that it is part of who they are. Even though they complain all the time, if you ask them, “Do you want to get well?” They will refuse. They are happier in their miserable state than any desire to change. How can anyone help them?

They have tried “everything” … except the God of creation, the God of angel armies, the man of sorrows, the bread of life, the light of the world,  the wonderful counselor, the way, the truth, and the life, the God who listens, the God who answers, the God who heals. They have tried everything except Jesus Christ.

Hey man, I’m trying to dig this ditch, but I’m having a hard time with just this spoon. Wow! That does sound hard, would you like to borrow a pickaxe and shovel? Hey, I didn’t ask you to fix it, I just wanted you to listen and encourage me. Okay!? How about renting a backhoe? Look I have this spoon. I don’t need any of your stuff. I thought you could sympathize with me. If you can’t do that, forget it. Just leave me alone. Okay!?

Do you want to get well?

Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda,” having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.  A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”   (John 5:2-6 WEB)

Do you want to get well? Yes, but my husband won’t, my wife can’t, my children don’t, my parents didn’t, my friend isn’t, my boss doesn’t, my job isn’t, my health limits, my sadness overwhelms, my loneliness isolates, etc. When we’re all wrapped up in ourselves, we make a tiny little package.

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Do you want to get well?

If we forget God and leave him out, we are ignoring the greatest resource ever.

For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 WEB)

 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 WEB)

But, God doesn’t know about my problems with my family. The creator of the universe, who breathed the breath of life into Adam and Eve, and ordained marriage, and watched you being formed in your mother’s womb, who was born of a virgin and lived among humans, doesn’t know about my family. Ya think?

But, God doesn’t know about my problems at work. The creator of the universe, who spoke the worlds into existence with his voice, who put the stars in place and called them by name, who ordered the planets, who directs the sun and moon in their circuit, doesn’t know about my work. Ya think?

But, God doesn’t know about my health. The promised messiah, who healed all kinds of sickness and diseases, who raised people from the dead, who suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world, who went to hell in your place so you could go to heaven, who was raised from the dead on the third day, doesn’t know about my health. Ya think?

Arise take up your mat, and walk

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.” He answered them, “He who made me well, the same said to me, ‘Take up your mat, and walk.'”  (John 5:7-11 WEB)

How about you? Do you want to get well?