Devotional 5-18-18

John 5: 9-13    Jesus heals at the Pool

 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 Jews 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."  ¹² So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" ¹³ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

This particular healing occurs in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate.  The area was used by a great many people who were blind, lame or paralyzed.  Jesus comes upon a invalid and commands him to pick up his mat and walk!  At once, the man was healed and did as Jesus directed.  However, this was the Sabbath and Jewish law demanded no work be done.  Instead of rejoicing at this great miracle the people criticized him for breaking the law.

How about you and your spiritual walk? Have you ever experienced true joy thru God only to have someone "steal" your moment? Or worse- have you ever accidentally minimized another person's mountain top experience by your concern for religious rule or order? 

We sometimes miss Christ interacting in our life.  Like society 2,000 years ago, we tend to get bogged down in the day to day trials of living.  Guided by the rituals of work/family/friends and the demands on our time we may not "see" Jesus moving in and among our daily struggles. But, just like the lame man at the pool, Jesus is there for us. Offering his healing touch and commanding each of us to go forth as his servants to do his will among the least of us!  May it always be so.

Prayer: Heavenly Father- help us to find your Joy in everything we do.  Keep us from being rigid in our spiritual life as we await that house not made with hands but eternal to the Heavens.  Amen

Marv Jones