do you want to get well?

And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. 6 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?" 7 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." 8 Jesus * said to him, "Arise, take up your pallet, and walk." 9 And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk. John 5:5-9

Do you wish to get well? What kind of question is that? Who doesn’t want to be healthy, right? Or do we? I have come to see, not only in my own life, but also in the lives of many others, that sometimes many really don’t want to be well, much less be completely whole.

There is so much illness in the world today. Disease is common and a constant reality for some. It is possible to be “not well” and be so familiar with it, that you settle for it, even think it is now a normal. It is also possible to be afraid of doctors so much that you won’t get help. If you are like me, you won’t even go get a check up. It is also true that being “not well” can be an excuse for some to mooch off of others or underachieve in life. In fact, our culture breeds some who earn a living on “being sick”.

Let me ask you a question: How do you feel? Does God have more for you? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? So much hurt. So much pain. We self medicate; we vacation; we eat, but we don’t get better. We get worse. Some quietly suffer in silence.

These days I truly believe that He has more for us. Much more. I don’t think we should settle for less.

Jesus stands in the midst of us all and asks the question, “Do you want to be well?”

For me, I’m saying yes! I want to be healthy. I want to be whole. I am now looking at life desiring more. I am not saying that I should never be sick in any way, but I believe that Jesus is leading me to experience His power and to make me whole, to truly reflect His life.

I am trading in my stress for His peace and rest. I am slowing down a little and appreciating more. I am guarding my mind. No junk gets in! I am forgiving people and not sweating the petty stuff. I am re-engaging my wife at a completely new level. I am enjoying my son. I am being inspired by great stories and good books. I am seeking to be a good friend. I am yielding my spirit to God and He is filling me. I am coming alive! God is reassuring me about who I am and where He is taking me in this crazy life.

I am willing to face the Truth, the Way, the Life and let Him touch my wounds and my hidden hurts. Yes Lord, I think I do want to get well!

Come this weekend and hear the message: “A New Attitude Toward Health.”

May God bless you with His life today and may you share it with others.

Chris