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From Heaven With Love
arrested his attention. He felt that in some way he was to have help.
But the glow of encouragement soon faded. He remembered how
often he had tried to reach the pool. “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 did not ask this sufferer to exercise faith in Him. He simply
said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” But the man’s faith took
hold upon that word. Every nerve and muscle in his crippled limbs
thrilled with new life. He set his will to obey Christ, and his muscles
responded. Springing to his feet, he found himself an active man.
The Secret of Spiritual Healing
The man might have stopped to doubt and lost his one chance
of healing. But he believed Christ’s word, and in acting upon it he
received strength. Through the same faith we may receive spiritual
healing. By sin our souls have been severed from the life of God and
are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life
than was the impotent man capable of walking. Many who realize
their helplessness and long for spiritual life are vainly striving to
obtain it. The Saviour is bending over these desponding, struggling
ones, saying, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
Do not wait to feel whole. Believe His word, and put your will
on the side of Christ. In acting on His word you will receive strength.
Whatever may be the evil which binds both soul and body, Christ is
able to deliver. He will impart life to the soul “dead in trespasses.”
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Ephesians 2:1
.
The restored paralytic stooped to take up his rug and blanket,
and, as he straightened himself, he looked around for his Deliverer.
But Jesus was lost in the crowd. As he hurried on his way with firm,
free step, rejoicing in his new-found strength, he told several of the
Pharisees of his cure. He was surprised at the coldness with which
they listened.
They interrupted him, asking why he was carrying his bed on the
Lord’s day. In his joy the man had forgotten it was the Sabbath. He
answered boldly, “He that made me whole, said unto me, take up thy
bed, and walk.” They asked who had done this, but he could not tell.
These rulers wished for direct proof that they might condemn Jesus