Stand (SA)

"Stand up, take your mat and walk."

 - From John 5

The interaction of Jesus with the paralyzed man at Bethesda involved the man himself participating in his own healing.

Think about it . . . our first act of charity, is our kindness to ourselves. We first help ourselves. The first miracle is when we listen to the Voice of God, and when we act. We most obey. And God's instructions to us are simple. "Stand up." That's the first one.

Move. Get out of your rut. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

"Take your mat."

Get your things. Clean up your mess. Straighten up. It's practical advice about leaving even the small tasks done.

"And walk."

Move it. Make a path. Go forward, or go back, but go.

And that becomes the essence of following Christ and making a miracle happen. For so many of us, that simply are stalled in our own malaise and laziness - - - our devotion to a routine. It paralyzes us. We become immovable. We train ourselves to be settled in our ways.

We think it may be so difficult to obey the Lord. But the first command is "Stand up."

That's something we can all do. And what follows is a miracle.