In 2011, I lost everything in life, a wife, family, friends, job, ministry, and health. I was 625 pounds, a broken mangled mess of a man who was hurting, depressed, and slowly killing myself due to being super morbidly obese. I was a pitiful excuse of human existence walking around in constant physical and emotional pain. On January 5, 2012, my life turned upside down again (but in a good way) and I began a dramatic life change. Since then I have been, like a boxer on a comeback trail, regaining my life and experiencing a new life, a real life, a TRUE LIFE. I have lost 255 pounds, naturally. I have not been using any kind of pills, powders, or fad diets. I continue daily to eat right, live right, workout hard, and serve my God knowing that all is being restored back to me. Everything is NEW and nothing is from my previous life. My ultimate goal is to be about 220-250 pounds. Below you will find the passage of the Bible that God used on January 5, 2012 to forever change my life.
John 5:2-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made 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, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked."
JESUS ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION (v. 6)
“Do you want to be made well?”
YES, I shouted as I read this passage. Then I said, “I don't just want to be made well. I want to Live and then help others live too!” As believers in Christ, you and I are saved to serve. We are part of God's family business of reconciling people back to Him. We have a part to do. Are you ready to answer Jesus' question?
JESUS DOES NOT LISTEN TO MEN'S EXCUSES (v. 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."
I thought the man in this Scripture had a valid excuse. I mean I have heard some really good excuses over the years to why something has not been done or tried and his seemed pretty good to me. Oh believe me, I know because…I’ve made every excuse in the book about why I could not lose weight or stick to an eating plan. The truth is that like most people I did want to change but I knew that change hurts, it's uncomfortable. No one likes change. We say YES, but really in our heart we say NO. As I’ve always said, “Excuses are like rocking chairs, they give you something to do but they never get you any place.” Or as a friend of mine once said, “Excuses make you look weak.”
JESUS IS ALL WE WILL EVER NEED (vs. 8-9)
“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked."
The man Immediately (not "one day or some day”) took up his bed and walked! In other words, He began to put action to his faith. He had been healed, made whole, transformed, changed and now he was living proof for all to see that daily he was becoming a trophy of God's amazing grace.
My Thot: DON'T WAIT!! Don't wait until you lose everything like I did. Nobody should lose everything they care for before asking God to change, transform, or heal them. Ask Him today. You too are called to become a trophy of God's Amazing Grace. Remember, if He can do it in me, God can do it in you. Comment below and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to receive blog updates in your inbox.
Until next time, grab a FREE Refill of the King's Brew @ the Soul Cafe.
Comments