Read: John 5:1-17

Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. (John 5:8b-9a)

Notice that the first thing Jesus says to do is what the man could not do, what he had tried for 38 years to do. On what basis does Jesus say these words to him? Somehow this man senses what that basis was. Perhaps he was thinking, If this man tells me to rise (and I cannot rise), it must mean that he intends to do something to make it possible. Thus his faith is transferred from his own efforts to Jesus: He must do it. I can’t. The man must also have reasoned somewhat along these lines, If this man is going to help me then I have got to decide to do what he tells me to do.

That is a critical clue many miss when they are looking for help from God. There is always something God tells them to believe, and do, and act on. This is a word of action. Jesus does not say, Try to build up faith in your mind. Try to fasten your thoughts on this or that. He tells them to do something: Rise! Stand up! Obviously it was Jesus’ will that this man should do what he told him to do, and the moment the man’s will agreed with the Lord’s will the power was there. I don’t know whether he felt anything or not. All I know is that strength came into his bones and into his muscles and he could stand.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Faith’s Action →