John 5:2-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaiccalled Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ 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?” ⁷ 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.”

Here is a question I have been asking and rather unsuccessfully. “Do you want to be healed?”

I see a man who desperately needs to be healed. Does he know that? Here in these verses the lame man knows there is healing to be had in the pool. He looks for a sign as many do for when it is right to enter. Rather than answering Jesus’ question, his lame excuse is that no one is willing to help him.

I have been here to help this lost soul. He doesn’t see the healing waters, he does not see the signs, and he does not know that he needs to be healed. My offer of help is refused. What am I to do?

“Pray my son, pray.”

My words have fallen on deaf ears of that lost one. Perhaps they will linger in his memory if God will be so gracious as to answer my prayers. Decades of lies have conditioned this man to reject the truth when it is spoken. Only God can show him the need to be healed. Only God can show him healing waters. I can only help now if he asks for help.

God have mercy.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)

¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Not everyone draws the same conclusions. I cannot help but wonder what conclusions each of us might draw if we had read the whole bible with understanding? The context in which this conclusion is drawn was subject to the condition of our resurrection form. The chapter begins with the comparison of our earthen vessel verses our heavenly vessel.

Different conclusions are drawn for different questions. If the question was about forgiveness, then the conclusions drawn would differ from those stated here. There is a different conclusion for every question but yet one Spirit and one Truth. Conclusions are drawn to satisfy that part of us that still questions. Trust and obey as much as you can realizing that doing so is personal and others might do better or worse.

Romans 7:15 (ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

We find ourselves relating to this verse and beg to know why we cannot be perfect?

Psalm 101:2 (ESV) I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

What conclusion can I draw from Romans 7:15 and Psalm 101:2 since both are true?

The condition of the heart determines what course we choose to walk. We want to come to the conclusion of eternal life with Christ for sure but there are so many unanswered questions on this journey.

My conclusion for this devotional is this: I need to get through today.