Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Posturing At The Pool

I have always liked the story of the healing of the paralytic in John 5. The text tells us that somewhere in Jerusalem there was a pool called "Bethesda". It was around this pool those who were blind, lame, ill, came for healing. The writer tells us that occasionally an angel of God would come and stir the waters and the first one into the pool would be cured. Because of its use by God to heal, people gathered around this pool, watching, waiting, and hoping for a healing. The story tells us that there was an invalid, a man paralyzed for 38 years. He is asked by the Messiah why he has not been made well, to which the man replies that he has no one to help him into the pool and since he is unable to reach it by himself, he remains paralyzed. Of course, our Jesus heals him!
Since history tells us that this was a very busy pool, this pool of Bethesda, I have often wondered why someone didn't help this poor incapacitated man into the water? Surely there were people around the pool, people who were there for healing, to be sure, but what about loved ones, family members, curious onlookers? Surely there were others there. Why did no one help this man? Were they too lazy? Did they simply enjoy standing by and watching the chaotic race to the water? Had they decided in their own mind who should and who should not receive healing? Or did they sit and sun themselves selfishly basking in the gift of their own healing?
I began to think about those of us who have come to know healing. We came into contact with the power of the Lord in the waters of baptism and now we, we know health, we know wholeness. But, we are surrounded by those who are spiritually ill, disabled and in dire need of healing. Our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, some of them are dying. They feel bad every single day. Their lives are lives of spiritual void and pain. They long for healing. Some of them look other places, in new age faith, in prescription medications, in self-help books, or other places, some illicit. Some of them just need some help getting to the healing Water. (John 4:10)
Friends, I don't know why we aren't bringing the sick to the One who can heal. I don't know why we aren't taking the blind by the hand and leading them to the Giver of sight. I don't know why we aren't carrying the lame to the One who can give their feet the ability to "dance in the light". But, I do know if we are content to let those around us perish, if we keep ourselves busy so we can pretend we don't notice them, if we have decided they just don't deserve to be healed, then we should repent! I know that those who are healed are the greatest testaments to those who need healing. I believe we are responsible for the souls perishing all around us. It is not enough that we "look" like Christians. (After all, things are not always as they appear). We must behave like Christians, we must do what Christians do, not to prove anything but simply because we are Christians. We are healed! We are whole! We have access to what those debilitated by sin only hope for! Isn't it time, we brought the sick to the Water, and stopped merely posturing by the pool?

Peace
Neva

19 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Great title, great post! Very sobering.

Pat

1:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Powerful,

Good job, sis


Dean

2:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is such a big difference between looking like Christians and acting like Christians. You are so right!!!!

It is time to BE like CHRIST!

Carol

3:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really liked this post. Seems like you and Trey had the same sort of thoughts today. very good, if yall keep preaching (blogging) it enough perhaps the rest of us will finally get it. Great post!

Love ya
Kel

4:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are spot on, sister! Keep up the great posts.
Our congregation continues to work on this very thing, acting like the church, living like the church and doing like the church.

Jarrod

6:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love the post and the application. I am never disappointed when I take the time to read your blog. You are such an inspirational writer. Keep up the good work. God is using you to bless so many.

Mary

10:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the alliteration.


Gina

10:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it, love it, love it.


Georgia

5:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When we lived in the states it was much easier to "not see" the poor and the sick. They are much more obvious here and yet, we still get so caught up in religion that we forget to be spiritual. This is the subject of many of my sermons. We have to do much more than just show up for "church". God calls us to be more. Thank you for this reminder.

9:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oops,forgot to say, this is Carlos. Have a great day, Neva!


Carlos

9:25 AM  
Blogger Kathy said...

It has been several days now that I've not been able to respond to your blog entries. Grrrr! BUT, what a wonderful piece to come back to! You are so right!

Could it be, that like the Jews of the John 5 text, we're afraid of being made 'unclean'? Under the Law, touching someone that was disabled required a cleansing and offering by the priests. Do we feel we will somehow be 'contaminated' by the 21st century poor/unclean? We certainly seem to do a very good job of insulating ourselves within a 'christian' circle of friends, schools for our kids, businesses we utilize, etc. Jesus walked among the unclean, ostracized, sinful ones. Shouldn't we do the same and let Him do the cleansing both of those who do not know Him and those of us that serve them? I pray we do more helping of the spiritually paralyzed into the pool of God's healing!!

Bless you, Neva! Great post again!!!!

11:09 AM  
Blogger Royce Ogle said...

What absolutely radical thoughts!

I absolutely agree.

His peace,
Royce

12:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree too! We can't expect the lost and the hurting to undergo the spiritual changes without helping them, reaching out to them and getting them the healing they need.

Shari

1:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I have been out of the blogworld for awhile but am very happy to be back. I missed you and your great posts.

Jean

4:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How come you always know how to say just what we need to hear? I am grateful to you, Neva, you help me grow everyday.

Yvonne

8:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so very happy to see regular posts from you! They always give me things to think about as I go through my day.

Eileen

11:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like that title... think I'll steal it... OK?

Good post.

6:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are a very gifted writer! It has been a pleasure visiting your site. I will most definitely visit again.


Randi

10:14 PM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

Neva, I have enjoyed catching up on your posts today. I have missed your thoughts and the way you make me think. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Blessings! Liz

10:52 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home