Obedience is BETTER than sacrifice!

John 5 
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⁶ 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?”
⁷ The sick man answered Him, “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.”
⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

I don't see, unlike most of the miracles in Jesus earthly ministry, any displayed faith in the man here... in fact Jesus asks him a yes or no question and all he gets from this man is excuses. I'm not asking why you aren't healed I am asking if you want to be! However something must have clicked for this man because he displays a high level of obedience. He not only gets up and carry's his bed, but he carry's it even after some religious people question him on his "rule breaking". There is a high level of trust displayed in this after effect.

Many times you don't need to meditate for years about something as much as you just need to DO what he said DO and DO IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!

We've been teaching our children a phrase that they are required to repeat every time they are disciplined.

"I obey the first time, every time, and I do it with a happy heart."

The funny thing is that as I've taught them to say it I've noticed that I hear it in my own head throughout the day as God is telling me things! THAT is what faith is about. DO IT... JUST DO IT!!!

04.13.10
If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.



Darrell G. Wolfe

Practicing His Presence