Get Up And Walk!

The world says, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” Jesus is the One Who said, “Take up your bed and walk.” ( John 5:8) Whose statement have we chosen to accept?

We may have chosen the specific place in life where our bed was made. We may have chosen how we made it up. We may have put every nail in it ourselves. The good news is that we don’t have to remain there. We may continue to bear some of the marks of the bed we have lain in, carrying some of those signs around with us as we WALK ON in life. However, in Christ is found the opportunity to MOVE ON. We do not have to remain where we are or where we have been.

Remember the woman brought before Jesus who had been caught in the act of adultery. ( John 8:3) She had chosen her bed. There were those eager to condemn her for her sin as they were also seeking to use the opportunity to test Jesus. ( John 8:5-6). However, Jesus directed her ONWARD IN LIFE when He said…

“…‘Neither do I condemn you; GO, AND FROM NOW ON SIN NO MORE.’” ( John 8:11 ESV)

Though Jesus did not condemn her, neither did He condone her actions. He directed her to WALK ON from them. The sin was to be left behind. She did not have to remain there.

The paralytic lowered down in front of Jesus through the roof of a house where Jesus was teaching was first told, “Your sins are forgiven.” ( Mark 2:5) Such a statement caused some to think within themselves that Jesus was blaspheming, considering that only God can forgive sins ( Mark 2:6-7).

Jesus responded…
“(9) ‘Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN,’ or to say, ‘RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK’? (10) But that you may know that THE SON OF MAN HAS AUTHORITY ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS” -- he said to the paralytic -- (11) ‘I say to you, rise, PICK UP YOUR BED, AND GO HOME.’ (12) And he rose and IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP HIS BED AND WENT OUT before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” ( Mark 2:9-12 ESV)

We come into contact with people who may be lying in the very bed they made. They may be bearing the marks of the poor choices that were their own. Do we turn our back on them, viewing them as hopeless or do we encourage them that they do not have to remain where they are as we direct them to Jesus, the One Who can forgive the sin that once bound them? Jesus did not turn His back on the woman caught in the act of adultery. Nor did He turn His back on the woman He met at the well who had had five husbands and the man with whom she was living at the time was not her husband. ( John 4:16-18) Jesus took the opportunity to lift their focus to the hope they could WALK ON in.

I encountered such a young woman this week. We talked specifically about the things that brought her to where she is today. But we also talked about the choices of today and MOVING ON making the right choices. She will unfortunately continue to bear some of the marks of the bed she has lain in, but she seemed to be ready to make the choice to stay out of that bed and MOVE FORWARD. I pray that that encounter will not be my last with her and that she will continue to make the right choices and maintain the right connections that will keep her WALKING ON the right path.

Jesus has the power to say “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN” and also “TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK!” May His power and authority encourage us to WALK ON in the truth of His Way. Let us also encourage others that this good news is for them as well.

Have a great day CONTINUING THE FORWARD MOTION IN CHRIST!
Carl

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