Do You Want to Be Well? - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 5
Do You Want to Be Well?
By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?” John 5:6
“You should go to the doctor.”
I urged a friend to go to the doctor since he hadn't had any blood work or a wellness checkup. He needed to maintain his physical health, including having an annual checkup and blood work. When the blood work returned that he had some areas he needed to improve, he made excuses.
He didn't have time to make a healthy dinner. His job didn't allow him to have a break to go to the gym. He didn't need medication; he could fix his issues on his own. Excuse after excuse abounded. Although he did tweak his diet, it wasn't enough to significantly improve his numbers. After one try, he gave up.
Unfortunately, this is quite common among people. Jesus saw this in his day. A man who had hung out at the pool for a long time made every excuse for not getting well. Because he was blind, it was difficult for him to get to the pool alone.
But he could have easily asked someone else for help. He could have someone bring the water to him. Someone could have created a way to carry him to the pool. This is why Jesus asked him this poignant question. So many of us know what to do during spiritual growth, but few do the work required to grow in that area.
We often fuel our prayer time with excuses rather than the hard work and dedication it takes to grow in the Lord truly.
Excuses can sound like: I have a stressful job, so I don't have time to read my Bible. I get home too late from work to cook a healthy dinner. The Lord can heal me instantaneously; I don't have to care for my body. I prayed while I was on my ride to work. That's all I have time for.
It's these excuses that keep us from actual spiritual growth. Jesus went to the man. He didn't allow his excuses to prevent him from healing him completely.
While it is true that Jesus comes to us in our time of need, we must work to grow spiritually. And we must read the Bible more than once a week. Weekly church attendance is not enough to supplement our spiritual walk. We not only need to pray, but we also need to stay silent and be ready to hear his still, small voice.
Do you make excuses when it comes to your spiritual walk? Do you justify why you don't read the Bible often? Do you tell yourself you don't have time to pray and hear God's voice?
We are all motivated by certain desires. If we're not careful, these desires for money, power, fame, possessions, or anything else will quickly rule our lives. Soon, the necessary spiritual work to increase our growth will fall by the wayside as we aim to chase after all the worldly things of life.
Analyze your spiritual walk. Where can you cut precious time to spend with the Lord in your schedule? Can you turn off the television at the end of the night? Can you pray when you first get up in the morning? When you arise, dedicate your day to the Lord. Ask him to go before you in every area. Ask him not to allow you to get too distracted by life. Allow him to keep you focused on the work you are equipped to do.
The more you practice prayer with God, the more intimate you'll become. If you want to be intimate with God, you must make space for it. Stop making excuses and dedicate your time to the Lord. Let him guide and direct your steps.
You may be surprised that you are more productive during the day than you thought, but you are busy doing things you never would have anticipated because God is directing your steps.
Father, help us stop making excuses about our spiritual growth. Allow your Holy Spirit to penetrate our hearts, transform us physically, emotionally, and mentally, and allow the spiritual growth that results to allow us to exemplify more of Christ. Amen.
Intersecting Faith and Life
What is one step you can take today to increase your intimacy with God? Are there people who can help move you further in your walk with God?
Further Reading
Proverbs 16:9
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