What an incredible weekend!! Saturday, I was exhausted and all the good intentions to clean house, do the yard, and work on editing quickly turned into resting, listening to sermons, and pretty much doing none of the planned activities. At first, I was a bit frustrated with myself; then, I realized God did command us to rest and He had shut down my brain for a day for a reason. I too often do the same thing in my Christian life, I try to work to please God. He usually has to shut me down for a day so I can refocus and let Him work through me. Sunday, I posted a poem from the archives, went to 8 am service at The Crossing, sat with Lindsey a while, and then left to visit another church downtown. I had promised a friend I would visit; although, the friend wasn’t there when I arrived. At this second church, a lady made her way over and sat beside me. She had been widowed only a few months, the weight of which showed in her eyes. At moments, I could see the tears rise as she tried to hold them back. By the end of the service, I knew I had found a new friend and I would be returning to visit. I have learned that there are no accidents or coincidences in my life; God, uses it all to accomplish His purpose in His timing.
Then yesterday evening I met with a small group from my church. It was the initial meeting with this small group that I would be joining to study the bible with. When I had first received the invitation and noted that the group was couples, I had wondered why God chose a couples group since I have been alone for such a long time as a widow. I was a bit afraid that the awkward ache of “loneliness” would creep back in. It had been a long time since I had allowed myself to think that or to desire anything else beyond the quiet aloneness that I have with God. [bctt tweet=”Had my heart really been healed? Or would the scars of a broken heart rip open to bleed once more?”] I have yet to see for certain. Still, this I know.
God knows every crevice of my heart and He designs every detail of my life. The small group was warm, open and inviting. By the end of the evening, I began to see the reasons God chose this group for me. [bctt tweet=”God is intimately involved in every detail of my life. Do you believe that for your life?”] He knows what is needed to step by step transform my heart into one that can mirror His Glory to a world in need of Him.
Every act of Jesus recorded by John had been with purpose; from the miracle at the wedding feast, turning over the money tables at the temple, the trip to Samaria and the healing of the nobleman’s son. So it was with great purpose that Jesus made his way to the Pool of Bethesda that Sabbath where He would heal a paralytic. There is little known about the pool of Bethesda except that recent archaeologic digs found the double pools which were created by a damn controlling the under springs. Some say it was a Jewish pool for ritual bathing, a mikveh. Some say that it was a place to wash the sheep and would be filled with blood; although, this is less likely as it was a large water source. We do know that later by 70 AD it was a “healing center that honored the pagan worship of Asclepius.” Asclepius in Greek mythology was the “God of Healing”. This was most likely the case in Jesus’ day as well. There within a short distance from the Jewish temple, was a pool that was said to have healing powers through the worship of a pagan God. Jesus came to declare He was the Great Physician. He was truly God. There was no other God that could heal the heart and soul of man.
There were five porches filled with people waiting for the pools “to be stirred” so that the first in could be healed. Jesus made His way to one man. The man had been in this state of paralysis for 38 years. The scripture says, “6 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” (JOHN 5 AMP). In the midst of a crowd, Jesus knew this man’s plight. He knows yours as well. He knows exactly how long you have been suffering. He also knew that the man was all alone. There was no one to help him. How long had he sat beside that pool; hoping someone would come to place Him into the “healing waters”? He did not even know who Jesus was. It was not even an act of faith by the man that allowed him to be healed. Jesus chose him from among the throngs of people at that pool awaiting healing. Jesus told him to “rise, take up your bed and walk.” He did. The Pharisees questioned him for breaking the Sabbath law by carrying his bed; yet, when they asked him who had healed him—he had no clue. Only later, when Jesus once more sought him out at the temple; did he realize who had healed him.
Here had been a man who desperately had searched for healing even at the hands of pagan idol worship, now returning to the temple. So, much like our modern day religions attempting to combine worldly idol worship with the truths of God. Still, Jesus searched for him again. This time to tell him that more than his body, Jesus had come to heal his sin-filled heart. He had come to give him a righteousness that had not been his. “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, least a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14). What is worse than 38 years as a paralytic? An eternity separated from God is far worse than anything this man had endured. Jesus did not leave him with only a healed body, He returned to heal His sinful heart and to give Him life eternal.
CONCLUSION:
1. God knows where you are and just how long you have been suffering.
2. God wants to heal your heart—so that you can find in Him the joy, love and hope that He desires to give you
3. It has nothing to do with you “getting it together” or “helping yourself to believe.” It is a matter of just saying yes when He asks, “Do you want to be healed?” Then you just let Him do the rest.
The song I chose for you today, When God Has Another Plan
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at artedabarba@gmail.com to discuss any art projects.
Original Photo used was downloaded from unsplash.com (public domain photos)
Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.