Waiting for the Waters to Stir

"Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" 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."" (John 5:2-7 NAS95S)

Observation: How many a man sits by the pool, waiting for the waters to stir? How many a woman has a miracle in mind, but not the miracle Christ has in mind? How often do we expect God to work in the way He did yesterday, when He has a new way in mind for today? And why does He work in a new way? Could it be He doesn't want our focus to be on the means of the miracle but the Gracious Giver of the miracle?

Application: Where is my focus? Where am I looking? To the how of it all, or to my Healer? To the means of the miracle, or to the God-man who works all miracles in my life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus you know the miracle I need today. I thought I had a means and a method. I was focused in on that and eventually became discouraged. My means was about men. My means was about me. Jesus today I'm looking to You for the miracle. However you want to do this I want to be open to Your leading. Father give me discernment to see when You are calling me to take up my mat and walk. Help me to see when it is You... I don't want to just wait for the waters to stir. But I will wait for You to speak. Let my life be what You stir. Let my heart be what You change. Don't just stir the waters, stir me. Don't just heal my flesh, heal my heart. Make me a miracle I pray. Amen!

The Touch of Faith

"Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garments?" And His disciples said to Him, "You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"" (Mark 5:30-31 NAS95S)

The following reflection from The Desire of Ages, about the woman who touched the hem of Christ's robe, is one of my favorites:

The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless throng. Such trust should not be passed without comment. He would speak to the humble woman words of comfort that would be to her a wellspring of joy,--words that would be a blessing to His followers to the close of time. {DA 344.2}

Looking toward the woman, Jesus insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told the story of her suffering, and how she had found relief. Jesus gently said, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." He gave no opportunity for superstition to claim healing virtue for the mere act of touching His garments. It was not through the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold on His divine power, that the cure was wrought. {DA 344.3}

The wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no accession of vital power. But when the suffering woman put forth her hand to touch Him, believing that she would be made whole, she felt the healing virtue. So in spiritual things. To talk of religion in a casual way, to pray without soul hunger and living faith, avails nothing. A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power. {DA 347.1}