Transforming Power

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John 5 - For 38 years the man had laid by the side of the pool. As far as sympathy goes, he had seen plenty of it. Every day for these 38 years he had waited by the waters to be the first in the pool after the angel had stirred the waters, but each time someone else had beaten him into the healing water and received their miracle.

One day Jesus was traveling through the city where this pool was located. The pool was surrounded by people with illnesses and handicaps of all kinds. Jesus saw the man and asked him “do you want to be healed”. Now, is it just me or does that seem to be an odd question? I mean, for thirty eight years this guy had lay by the pool. Of course he wanted to be healed. But then I think of how easy it is to become the guy who wears trouble like a well tailored suit. Isn’t it easy sometimes to fall into a pattern of “poor pitiful me” and wear our burdens like a crown?



I think we must ask ourselves if this guy really wanted to be healed or had he found a sense of comfort in his affliction? So when Jesus asked the man this pointed question, the man states that he has no one to help him into the water when the angel has stirred it. At this point Jesus helps the man out of his dilemma and tells him to stand up, pick up his mat and walk. Jesus does not heal the man whether he wants it or not. He asks him, which forces him to consider how much he has lost faith. Jesus awakens hope in a man that has been helpless and hopeless for nearly forty years.

With that in mind I must now ask myself. What is standing in the way of me being all God wants me to be. I think we should ask ourselves. Is there anything standing in the way of me receiving God's healing and transforming power and would I recognize His voice if He confronted me about it? Maybe the first step is to search ourselves and see if there is a desire to change. If not, no amount of prompting can change us. God manifests His power to those who sincerely desire it. Lord, put within my heart a burning desire to change and a ravenous hunger to be more like you.

This is a little different from my usual writing. It was not delivered without prayer. I just felt led to ask you. Do you want to be changed, set free from sin, and transformed into His holiness? Oh, it’s not me asking. So don’t be weird toward me. He is asking me the same question!

Remember to always ride the narrow road and stop in and see us again.

Your riding companion, Larry (Skeeter)