Richard Roberts – Second of two parts
The second challenge Jesus gave the lame man at the pool of Bethesda was, “Take up your bed (John 5:8 NKJV). His bed had carried him for thirty-eight years. Now it was time for him to carry the bed.
The same is true for us. It’s time for us to pick up the things the devil has tried to attach to our lives and say, “You’re not going to carry me anymore. I’m going to take responsibility for my life. You’re not in charge, God’s in charge.”
The third challenge Jesus gave the man was, “Walk” (v.8). He was saying, “Re-enter humanity. It’s time to get back into the business of living.” No one had ever spoken to the man like that before. He had resigned himself to his situation, but now, for the first time in thirty-eight years he struggled to his feet. No doubt he wobbled. But then hope got under one arm and faith got under the other. And the man who had been lame and down in his attitude for thirty-eight years leaped to his feet and began to walk!
I believe God is giving the same challenge to each of us: “Rise, take up your bed and walk!” Don’t let the devil hold you down. Change your attitude. Change your way of thinking and believing. As long as you remain passive, inactive, and consumed with excuses, you will never get up. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been down, with God’s help you can get up. But it takes faith. It takes determination. Do your part. Put your hope and trust in God, and you can start walking toward a new life today!