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?” (John 5:5-6, NKJV)
We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].
This man had spent thirty-eight (38) years of his useful life, digging himself into a hole (pit) of seeming hopelessness. In all this time, he felt every other thing/person was at fault except him. For, his story was, “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.” [John 5:7]
We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].
This man had spent thirty-eight (38) years of his useful life, digging himself into a hole (pit) of seeming hopelessness. In all this time, he felt every other thing/person was at fault except him. For, his story was, “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.” [John 5:7]
He wanted his healing but was unwilling to change his mentality. Just how much he represents a whole lot of us. As James Allen would say, “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they, therefore, remain bound.” What are the things we need to work on to get unbound?
Number one on the list is the age-long challenge of man, PRIDE - the thought the world revolves around one. It amazes me why people think the whole world should halt just because they are not getting what they want. They feel a sense of entitlement.
Hence, they expect every other person or thing to change, but themselves. There is the feeling “God will stop being God if I do not get what I want.” Really?
“God is God, and, you are not.”We see this prideful mindset in Cain. [Genesis 4]. He refused to make the adjustment(s) needed for his sacrifice to be accepted. He felt entitled to special privileges. After all, he was the firstborn son, for that matter. He was the first to be born of a woman. Isn’t that something? Doesn’t God owe him?
What is your own reason? Why do you feel entitled? Why do you think you deserve special privileges? Is it because you've been a Christian all your life? Or, because you fast hard and long? Is it because you give your tithe, or because you go to church more days than there are in a week? And the list continues.
Is that why you think God must change rather than you? God is God, and you are not.
© 2017 Akin Akinbodunse
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Links to Other Resources:
From Pride to Humility (Dr. Stuart Scott)
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