Do You Want?

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’  The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” John 5:2-9

Thirty eight years and unable to see or move. His only refuge was the shade of the stone structures, his imagination for healing was paralyzed. When the Son of God approached and asked if he wanted to be healed, the invalid, blind to that possibility and lame to hope, was inept to make the slightest move in faith. Life had become dependence on others, and blaming the very ones who helped him at all. When Jesus invites his desire and gets no answer, He breaks into his infirmity of soul and heals him, giving what the man cannot express he wants out of pure grace.

When we live in the shallows of mediocrity, busyness, and wasted time, our vision for what could be is limited. Lives ingrained in this world seldom imagine the joys and freedom of the heavenly one. Provinciality inhibits compassion for a wider reach to others, self-interest prevents us from investing in rich relationships, and personal ambition excludes generosity and availability. We do well enough what we always have, so see no need to seek what the Lord wants to expand for us going forward. We can settle in place paralyzed with fear of the unknown, unable to take up new ideas or correction, blind to hope. According to our inclination and history, change is impossible.

But the Lord wants His people singing new songs. He came to earth to awaken the dead, revive the flagging, restore the broken, feed the hungry, redirect the wandering, heal the sick, strengthen the weak, embolden the timid, enlarge our borders. He longs to break in and arouse faith, calling us to get up and walk in new life. (Deuteronomy 19:8-9; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Psalm 96:1-3; Isaiah 40:28-31; Mark 2:17)

Where do we want the Lord to heal us so we can rebuild a relationship, conquer besetting sins, respond with courage to a new calling? He asks, standing ready to save! He’s able and willing, and requests what we want, and often we only make excuses: It’s too hard. That’s impossible. This is all I have ever known. They are against me. They never do their part. When will we respond in bold faith to His ask, declare what we need, and pick up whatever has enabled our paralysis and walk with Him? If we genuinely want His to work in and through us, we will cooperate with His commands and experience His power. (Isaiah 43:19; Philippians 3:13-14)

Lord, help me want what You want, and walk in faith rejoicing.