Today I consider the man at the pool (John 5:1-9). He has been in the same place for 38 years. 38 years. For many that is their entire life or a good majority. And the only thing he has to say is “there is no one to help me.” I am saddened by this. This man for 38 years has waited for someone else to do something for him. You’d think he would have tried to muster enough strength to wiggle alittle closer over the years. Or at least to get those who dropped him of to put him into a position closer. Yet he resigned himself to live in whatever situation he was in. He didn’t every try for something better.
I consider my own life, am I just staying where I am resigning to whatever position others are leaving me. Or am I doing all I can to move to a goal? Sometimes I have to admit I resign. I don’t have the energy to putup a defense but will I stay there for 38 years. I hope not! Jesus came in to speak to him. Asking him what he wanted. There is something about this exchange. the man has to face his desires and consider how badly he wants it. Jesus doesn’t settle for his excuse either. He tells him to move.
Sure Jesus healed the man, but have you considered the fact that this man had to participate in the healing? If he continued to say, “I need someone to carry me” he never would have moved off the mat.
I encourage our meeting to get involved in helping ministries, but I wonder are we truely helping? I wonder if we put into place some form of assistance that required some participation on their part if we’d help more. I am excited this week because we are nearing our yearly ministry conference for the Mid American Friends, one of our workshops deals with helping ministries. I am hopeful that maybe I will see a way to truely help those in need.
I am writting this while watching my son at a hockey camp. There are 80 kids trying to learn the sport and five profesional athletes trying to teach. There are things some know better then other and they are teaching those that want and need to know. The kids have a desire the coaches have a desire to help. They have to meet together for the exchange. And when they meet the kids have to move, react, and participate or they will never learn anything.
We can’t help anyone who doesn’t really have a desire to move. We can only encourage and offer some options. Let us as church meetings be creative in our encouragment and be open to Christ as we participate in helping His children in need.
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