Trust in the Word of Christ

Hello Church, 
   In the Gospel of John, chapter 5 is a story of a man, who for 38 years was lying  by the pool waiting for someone help in get in when the water was stirred. The pool of Bethesda became a shrine to the Jews. The tradition was that an angel would come down at times and stirred the waters and whoever got in first was healed of whatever disease they had.
   These people that were at the pool were waiting on the wrong thing. They were waiting on an angel when the Word of God tells us to wait upon the Lord. Waiting on the Lord is expecting God to do something - it's looking for the Lord with an expectation (that's why you'll hear us say here at Hosanna, "Did you come expecting?")
   Jesus goes to this man that has been there for 38 years. Think of that - 38 years of dashed hopes, crushed dreams, false prophesies, struggles, sufferings and loneliness. Too many Christians, God's people today are lying on a bed of despair or depression. They've allowed a root of bitterness to take root in their lives, while all along they're hoping for a miracle to happen in their lives. They're looking for someone to come along and "stir up things" and make things happen. They drag themselves to service after service, meeting after meeting, go to counseling, seminars, conferences, follows this person, follows that person - and they retell the same old story of pain and woe is me - BUT NOTHING HAPPENS.
   Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to be made well?" I believe that Jesus' question implied that maybe this man wasn't really ready to face the responsibility that goes with being healed - when you get healed, you have to have a new attitude, a responsibility. Sad to say, but for some people, their misery is their personality.
   Church, Jesus is speaking to each of us today. We have to do like this man did. This man was made whole because he heard the Word and obeyed the Word. All Jesus wants you to do is believe His Word and act on that Word. If this man refused to obey Jesus Word, he would be still lying at that pool today - life would just pass him by.
   What has Jesus spoken to you? Are you acting on that Word? Are you running with that Word? Is that Word sustaining you through difficult times? In the times that we live in we have to pick up our bed and go on - to keep pressing in to the things of God. The Lord spoke to Paul and said, "My grace is sufficient for you.
   Be blessed in all you do.
 
P. Tom