John 5:8-11
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ””
If you are unfamiliar with the healing at the pool of Bethesda. I recommend reading John 5:1-15. Many people see it as the miracle of the lame man. It was a miracle by all means. However, I read a different take on these verses.
The man had 1 million excuses for why he couldn’t walk. He blamed others around him. Jesus came along and asked him one simple question, “Do you want to walk?” He didn’t say, you poor baby, or I know these people are big meanies and it is not your fault. Immediately the man opened his mouth and replied, “Well yeah I do!” Jesus came back with then do it and he did. Then the Pharisees told him he couldn’t do it (because it was the Sabbath). Instead of listening to them, however, he continued on because Jesus told him he could walk.
It’s just like us, we have excuses for why we can’t do things. But then Jesus gives us the strength to do them. Satan and the world try to tell us we can’t do that. The question is whom do we listen to? Are you ready to pick up your mat and walk?
Lord, I don’t want to let the world dictate what I am capable of. You are my strength. ~amen
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