“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.“

 — Martin Luther.

Two words, “fresh” and “renew,” were consistently expressed yesterday. I’m sure everyone who shared in their designated roles did not talk to each other; however, God chose to have this theme threaded through our experiences and worship. Between services, I decided to engage in my Bible study, “Discovering Jesus.” I would wait until the 11:15 service to hear the message with my family. I was serving on the worship team today.

John Chapter 5

This chapter is about the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda. Two exchanges with this man stand out. First, Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well, and second, Jesus commands the man to “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Later, the man goes to the temple, and the exchange with Jesus is a spiritual healing. I love how Jesus cares for his physical needs and offers more significant healing through a spiritual encounter. I’ve experienced both in my relationship with Jesus. He is always present and willing to refresh me and renew my mind. Yet, I can find myself waiting by the pool in anticipation or apathy. I don’t even know if apathy is the right word–but the feeling of complacency. I adore how God works in us and around us. I was sitting in the quiet of the sanctuary when I heard the huddle meeting of all those serving get started. Honestly, I did not want the crowd or the engagement, and I said, “I’ll just sit here and listen from afar, and that will be okay.” There was another man in the same situation, sitting quietly. Just us two, wanting a moment. The more I sat there, the more I felt the nudge to get up and engage, to stand up, and pick up MY mat. My mat of “all the things” on my mind and heart that seem to paralyze me spiritually. I get up and join the circle. And, I notice the man follows me. Maybe God was chatting with him, too. The lead worship pastor shares a verse and speaks to complacency and how God never loses his overjoyed willingness to work in our lives. He is always there and engaged with joy and hope. We can show up with the doldrums, yet, He will be our biggest cheerleader.

I smiled. Thank you, Jesus. In John 5:24, Jesus speaks to those who love Him, and they have already passed from death into life. The chapter also expresses how the people were excited about John the Baptist and his message “for a while.” He was to prepare the way for Jesus, and Jesus was a greater witness than John through his teachings and miracles. Once again, the meaning of fresh and new comes to light as I consider the meaning behind the scriptures in my life. How “for a while” I can _____________ (fill in the blank). Consequently, I grow weary or confused, and then Jesus teaches me or works a miracle, and reminds me to focus on Him. “Do you want to be well?”

In John 5:40, Jesus talks about how we can refuse to come to Him to receive life. This passage was shared during the transition from worship to the message:

Matthew 11: 28-30

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Walk with Me

Notice the words “come to me” and “walk with me.” The person sharing the passage said David’s purpose was to slay Goliath, and his purpose was not a burden. We often teach that Goliath is a metaphor for a burden or difficulty in our lives, and looking through this different lens provides a viewpoint of purpose—God’s calling. If we are burned out, the question for me becomes, am I living in God’s purpose? What is my purpose? I thought about work, roles, the gifts He has given me. I kept coming back to relationships. I’m still thinking this through. Praying. I visually saw the people in my life and my relationships.

Purpose

How often do we overlook our true purpose, just like those who missed the vision of Jesus and His mission for them? Yet, Jesus continues to offer us the opportunity for healing, gently asking if we genuinely desire to be well. Embracing wellness demands our unwavering effort and focus. It requires us to let go of certain things we once thought were beneficial, even if only for a short time. We must concentrate our hearts on Him and rise above the noise of what others say or try to persuade us to believe. It calls for us to hold on to faith, even when our circumstances feel overwhelmingly bleak.

Life-giving Spaces

If Jesus came to give us life, why do we not fully embrace this life-giving space? Perhaps a better question is, “How do we inhabit this life-giving space?” I appreciate how the author of the Bible study poses a thought-provoking question: “If Jesus were standing in front of you and asked if you wanted to be well, what would you say?” How would that conversation unfold? We might be dismissive and insist that we are fine, or we could focus on someone else’s need for healing that affects us. As I headed to the service, I found the message uplifting. The speaker talked about fear and how we can be healed from generational fears that prevent us from living our best lives, refreshed and renewed with purpose.

The How

The “how” is found in the scriptures—Jesus told them, “The scriptures point to me.” Do we truly see Him? Do we desire to walk with Him? I pray that Jesus will continue to bless you and speak life into your daily walk with Him. Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk. You have moved from death to life, and He loves you.

The Message on May 25 from The Chapel, Pastor Reed

The message starts 34 minutes into the service, if you would like to start with the message.