Call Out To Jesus
John 5:1-14
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Thought For Today:
Sometimes we do not fully understand the consequences of sin in our lives. Many people believe they can dabble in sin without being affected by it, but Scripture teaches otherwise. James writes, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14–15).
The Danger of Letting Sin Take Hold
A person may flirt with sin only a little while before it attaches itself to the heart. Once it takes hold in the right place, it begins to affect the whole life and can bring a person down. Sin can cripple, bind, and leave a person ineffective for the Master’s use.
A Lesson From the Man at Bethesda
The man in today’s Scripture had been afflicted for thirty-eight years. Can you imagine feeling hopeless, rejected, and helpless for that long? Can you imagine watching others in the same condition, all waiting for help that seemed out of reach?
Sin can leave a person spiritually crippled in the same way. Those who are bound by sin may blame others or their circumstances, but sin itself is the true captor. When sin is allowed to attach itself to a life, it can hold that person captive until there is genuine repentance.
The Hope of Repentance
If you feel crippled by sin today, there is hope. A godly heart of repentance can get Jesus’ attention and bring real change into your life. As Paul said, sin shall not have dominion over you.
Call out to Jesus in repentance, turn from the sin that has held you captive, and allow Him to make you whole.
