A life beyond my wildest dreams: "Being called by Jesus to, ‘get up! take your mat and walk.’"
John 5:8-9 “Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath.”
Could it be that unless we come into contact with Jesus Christ we will never know God’s dream for our lives. God does not intend for me to live by the pool of Bethesda and find a way to get water before the others around me. God intends for me to take up my mat and walk. Jesus refuses to let anything get in the way of me hearing His voice and living His dream for my life. Jesus refuses to let empty religion get in the way of His relationship with me. I wonder what would happen if the church quit worrying about religion and started listening for Jesus’ voice to take up our mats and walk. I wonder what would happen if we believed that Jesus desired to do something with our lives that is beyond our physical comprehension. I wonder if Jesus wants to do something with my life that can only happen if He is present and active. The invitation is in front of me the only thing holding me back is myself and my limited conception that only sees the water to survive instead of the miracle that is waiting to happen. Today, I choose to pick up my mat and walk; I choose to believe that Jesus has a plan for my life; that Jesus has a plan for this new church; that Jesus doesn’t care about my religious rules and tradition but Jesus cares about me growing closer to Him and living the life He intends for me; a life that will point to His transforming love that can take my brokenness and turn it into a brand new life.
Jesus, thank you for not walking by the pool; thank you for seeing more in my life then I could ever see by myself. Thanks for calling me from the pool; thank you for freeing me from the downward spiral of the world and inviting me into a new life, a life that I could never have seen if it had not been for you calling out my name. Protect me from the temptation to look at the world through the eyes of the invalid laying by the pool and empower me to look at the world through the eyes of an invalid that has been healed and forgiven. Give me the strength to live in the reality of your transforming grace and may this love be the driving force of my life. May I never allow religion to get in the way of following you but may my total focus be upon your dream for my life and for the lives of those around me. Amen!!!
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