W-A-L-K Away..‍.

A story is told of a man who sat by a pool at Bethesda with an infirmity for 38 years. Jesus healed him (summarizing the story), and said to him….

Arise, take up your mat, and walk (John 5:8 – paraphrased).

Allow me to share a few things that came to mind as I thought about this incident.

I see three instructions here…

1. Arise or rise up…get up from where you’re sited, stranded, or tied
2. Take up your mat – deal with that which has been holding you down – acknowledge the issue, resolve to turn from it, make the needed change(s)
3. Walk. Make every effort to change and to maintain that change if you are to keep afloat that which had put you down and not go back to it.

I also realize that the Lord Jesus healed the man. But the bulk of the work was on the man, to work out and maintain his healing. He was not told where to go, he was only told to walk.

What are we doing that we need to walk away from, even as we believe in God for our healing?

It will take extra work on ourselves to deal with those issues that we slip under the carpet many a time. But, only we can begin the change that we desire to see. Start somewhere.

God bless you.

NB: Bethesda (Beth hesda) in Hebrew means house of mercy.