JESUS SPEAKING

  ’Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.’ (John 5: 2 – 9)   

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

  A man who had been sick for 38 years lay beside the pool of Bethesda yearning to be healed. Despite the length of his infirmity, he remained faithful and never lost hope. In response to his enduring faith, Jesus performed a miracle in his life. After being made whole again, the man picked up his mat and walked away. Hope, like many other Christian virtues is powerful, essential, and everlasting. Those who have no hope in the future will sink into despair, and eventually die.

  As the story goes, one evening while eating dinner in Maine, a man fascinated his companions by telling them of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded, in order to create a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was flooded, all improvements and repairs in the entire town were stopped. What was the use of painting a house if it was going to be covered with water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole village was to be wiped out? So, week by week, the doomed town became more and more ragged, disheveled, and degenerated. Then the man added by way of explanation: ”Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.”

   Similarly, concerning Christianity, our hope in the future dictates how we behave in the present. Our faith is rooted in the hope of an eternal life with God in His kingdom. No one who genuinely believes this truth can ever sink into despair or be destroyed by any present circumstance. Although believers are not immune to suffering, we cannot be crushed by it; nor can we be robbed of our joy in the present, knowing that difficult trials may come and go, but God is everlasting.

  ”Lord Heavenly Father, we come before you with praise and thanksgiving. We yearn to be healed, as we hope in our future with You in Your kingdom. Increase our faith, that we may joyfully overcome the trials of this life and spread the gospel message to all those who have fallen into despair. With You there is a great hope on the horizon; may we never lose sight of that shining truth. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!