"Sir ," the invalid replied, "I have no one
to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get
in, someone else goes down ahead of me." John 5:7 NIV
Fulfilled hope is more about the who than the what. This story of healing by Jesus takes place
near a pool of water called Bethesda.
Many crippled, including this invalid man of 38 years, would wait around
this pool for the hope of being healed.
Their belief was that an angel would come down and stir the waters,
whoever made it into the waters first was healed. This man would wait day after day, year after
year, hoping to be healed. Jesus spoke
healing to the man, to pick up his mat and go home. The man obeyed and was healed.
Three points of interest.
Hope helps us survive, even if it the answer is almost
unobtainable. For 38 years this man came
to the pool waiting to be healed.
Someone probably brought him to this spot daily. This was most likely a spot in which many
needed gathered, because he said others beat him to the water. There were people who probably had a ministry
sharing their food and providing some care for these outcast and needy. He was at this spot, because of hope in a
story for help.
·
What things are you hoping for? A better job?
A lifelong relationship with someone to share life with? That your boss would change enough to provide
a better work environment? For the drama
surrounding your life to settle down so you could experience peace? A reliable form of transportation?
·
Hope seems to be that next piece of fruit that
is just out of reach, but yet we think we have a strategy to reach it.
You own your hope. No
one else fully understands the importance of your need. This invalid had no one else to help him into
the water. And others beat him to the
healing. Have you ever been frustrated
that others don’t share your dream? Have
you felt alone in your pursuit of that for which you hope?
·
Your journey in life brings its own set of
uniqueness. No one else has walked in
your shoes, nor can they fully. You are
a sum total of life’s joys, sorrows, adventures, and relationships. These are the qualities that make you who you
are.
·
So it is important that you own your hope and
stop expecting or blaming others that you have not received that for which you
hope. Maybe they have carried you to the
pool, thank them. But don’t blame them
for not helping you get into the water.
Fulfilled hope is found in the “who” and not the “what”. Although hope helps us make it through the
muddy waters of bad experience, the object of our hope will determine the
lasting security of a strong foundation.
·
Much of our hope is misdirected about the
changing of our circumstances or people in our lives. We have believed that if our circumstances
would change into the direction for our perceived good, then happiness will
follow. The woman who continues to go
from relationship to relationship keeps thinking the next guy will be
different. Yet, her life remains in
turmoil. It ain’t the guy. The man who has trouble with his boss, is now
struggling again on his 5th job in 2 years. It ain’t the job or the boss.
·
Only hope in Jesus gives us the foundation to
weather the storms and navigate the rough waters of life. This is not just platitudes of spiritual
jargon. Jesus is a rock that gives us a
firm place to stand even when life is not “going our way”.
How do we place our hope in Jesus that is more than lip
service expressed on Sundays?
·
Promises from God build faith for us to
follow. Promises found in the Bible
become the footsteps for our journey.
When I feel all alone and don’t know where to turn. God’s promise to never leave me nor forsake
me becomes the next step of confession. “God,
I don’t feel your presence, but your word says that you are here and you are
with me. I trust in your word to bring
the comfort and wisdom in the decision I need to make.”
·
Your words of confession in Jesus directs the
flow of hope to you. It is so important
that you speak right things (God’s Promises) when you are walking in
trials. No more should you say things
like- “My life is a mess and will always be a mess. I am a failure and will always be a
failure. God is too busy to care about
all of my problems.” Instead, confess
God’s word over your life. “I can do all
things in Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 God who began a good work in me will continue
that work to bring it to completion. Phil 1:6
Cast all of your cares upon Him (God) because He cares about you I Peter
5:7.” Listen to the words coming from
your mouth to determine where your hope lies.
·
Waiting does not necessarily mean that
hope is misdirected, for it may be building character. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance,
character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been
given to us.
Romans 5:3-5. NIV
I am glad Jesus found the man at the pool of Bethesda and
healed him. Jesus can find us wherever
we are in our point of need. There are
many waiting for the stirring of the waters.
They have hope that something can change their lives. Let’s lead them to Jesus. He is THE author and THE finisher of our
faith and hope.
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