From Lukewarm to Devoted

The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath– John 5:1-17

“Do you want to be healed?”

That’s what Jesus asked the crippled man sitting near the pool at Bethesda. He had been there for over 30 years but had never been able to get in. But when Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed, the man only gave Him excuses for why he couldn’t get in the pool.

So Jesus told him “Get up, take up your bed, and walk”;  And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Jesus sees him a little later and tells him “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” I read it in another translation and it said “You look wonderful! You’re well! Don’t return to a sinning life or something worse might happen.”

During my one on one time with the Lord, the “don’t return to a sinning life” part, hit me so hard because of all the times the Lord has forgiven and healed me. I have found myself in the same position as this man before, laying complacently in my infirmity wanting to be healed, delivered, or forgiven. And just like this man, all I had holding me back were my excuses. “Lord I’m too busy,” “Lord I’m too tired,” “Lord I’m scared,” “Lord living in is sin brings me comfort,” “Lord I’m too mentally and physically tired from the week to go to church this morning,” “Lord I’m too angry to forgive,” “Lord I don’t feel like it,” “Lord not tonight but tomorrow for sure.”

Excuse after excuse. I know God wants me to stop with the excuses and just make a decision to obey, like the man at the pool did. Because in an instant: “at once”, the man was healed! At once, things can change! At once, the anxiety can change. At once, the fear can change. At once, my heart can change. At once, my mind can change. At once, I can go from lukewarm on fire for Christ again. I just need to get up, pick up my mat, and walk. I know this.

The thing is, I have picked up many ‘mats’ of my life more than once, twice, or three times. I have gotten up from the pit I found myself in;  picked up the mats of: sin, shame, fear, anger, offense, unbelief, disobedience, or pride; and walked away from them- just like Jesus instructed. It felt amazing having been healed, delivered, & set free.

However, this verse helped me to realize I’m not listening long enough to the Lord’s instruction to truly understand that after he tells me to pick up my mat and walk he says to “sin no more” / “don’t return to a sinning life or something worse might happen.” I keep missing that mark and that’s what I desperately want to change. I want to stop returning to a sinning life consumed by distractions, noise, vices, hustle, bustle, and distance from God. I want out of this toxic cycle. I’m at a point in my life and walk with Jesus that my answer is yes. “Yes, Lord, I want to be healed.”

Selah