I have a treat for you all today. I am just sure you will love it–a special guest blogger!
Ron Edmondson is the pastor of Grace Community Church and founder of Mustard Seed Ministry. Ron blogs regularly on leadership, family and church life at http://www.ronedmondson.com.
Ron and his wife, Cheryl, have a heart for Kingdom-building, including in their own home. They have two sons, Jeremy, 21 and Nathaniel, 19 who have both experienced a call to full-time ministry.
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Pick Up Your Mat And Walk
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:8 NIV
In order to appreciate the value of Jesus’ command, you need to consider the culture of the day. Today, although some may feel we don’t do enough, there are limited opportunities for the physically handicapped to work and lead productive lives. In Christ’s time on earth, the handicapped were outcast. They lived off handouts they could obtain from begging.
In the above instance, the man had been crippled for a long time. Probably the only possessions he had were the clothes on his back and the mat on which he lay. The mat was almost a symbol of the only hope in his life. His existence was one to be pitied. There was no known cure for what ailed him (except Jesus), and even if there had been, he certainly couldn’t have afforded it.
Jesus had sympathy for the man, and with the spoken word, the man was healed. Jesus told him to “Get up!” take his mat and walk. Obviously, this was a gift greater than anything money could have bought.
Whenever I read this verse, this question comes to mind:
What mat am I holding on to today? What mat are you?
This man was holding on to his mat. It had surely become a treasured possession to him. He slept on it, rested on it, and watched the world pass by on it. He couldn’t have imagined facing the day without it. Jesus tells him to pick it up and walk. When Jesus was finished with the man, he didn’t need the mat anymore. It would take faith to trust Jesus and attempt to walk, but the victory was worth it all. Instead of a mat of hope, this man had the hope of Christ!
What would Jesus have you and I pick up today? What are you holding on too tightly as your hope?
Are you drowning in your sorrow, because you refuse to completely trust God? Are you moping about the setbacks of your life, because you have failed to accept His grace? Are you suffering from the sin that has wrecked everything around you, because you won’t submit yourself to accountability? Do you hold back from committing to God because you are afraid He won’t accept you?
Whatever you are holding on to tighter than your faith, I believe Jesus would say, “Pick up your mat and walk!” Trust Him with that in which you currently trust the most. Permit Him to see you through the difficult days of life. Allow Him to carry your burdens, strengthen your walk and brighten your hope for the future.
Jesus wants to help you. Listen for His command to pick up your mat and walk!
What is that one thing you’ve never been able to let go of, but know you need to do so?
I guess I know one of the things I need to let go of, but it seems so difficult! Actually, in my case, it's something I need to tear down. I've always kept a wall up between me and all others, including those in my family — and even my husband. I think if people get too close, they will see something they don't like and begin to reject me. So — I am very good at controlling my relationships. Gerowing up in a non-affectionate family has instilled this in me and I have lived up to my past influences. I really would like to be freed from this — a very difficult thing to do. When you've always "laid on that mat," it's hard to believe you don't need it anymore! Praying for the walls to come down!! Thanks for sharing this blog, Heidi!
I guess I know one of the things I need to let go of, but it seems so difficult! Actually, in my case, it's something I need to tear down. I've always kept a wall up between me and all others, including those in my family — and even my husband. I think if people get too close, they will see something they don't like and begin to reject me. So — I am very good at controlling my relationships. Gerowing up in a non-affectionate family has instilled this in me and I have lived up to my past influences. I really would like to be freed from this — a very difficult thing to do. When you've always "laid on that mat," it's hard to believe you don't need it anymore! Praying for the walls to come down!! Thanks for sharing this blog, Heidi!
I need to let go of many things…but probably the number one thing right now would be selfishness. I do things because they make me feel good at the time – (i.e. overeating, shopping, watching too much t.v.) but I fail to see how they impact my relationship with God and the people around me. I want to let go of these selfish desires…I want to obey Christ's command when he tells me to pick up my mat and walk! Freedom awaits!!!
I need to let go of many things…but probably the number one thing right now would be selfishness. I do things because they make me feel good at the time – (i.e. overeating, shopping, watching too much t.v.) but I fail to see how they impact my relationship with God and the people around me. I want to let go of these selfish desires…I want to obey Christ's command when he tells me to pick up my mat and walk! Freedom awaits!!!
P.S. Thanks, Heidi, for posting this blog for us!
P.S. Thanks, Heidi, for posting this blog for us!
The Lord is really showing me the things I am "laying around on" might seem comfortable, but they are hindering me from walking in the promised Land with Him! I don't need to be in the wilderness , but picking up my mat and walking with Him. Cool. I was thinking today how I've managed to become so controlling about the real food God has for me and so out of control with physical food. I'm anorexic with my daily BREAD, while stuffing myself with ashes from the world! It was so freeing to have Him show me that, and be ab,e to turn it around today for my nourishment. I ate much less "food" and Binged on the Bread of Life. Thanks Heidi for your insight and honesty. don't be afraid to keep open to us, so we can be open too, and share and heal.. and walk in a way the is worthy of our God! Love Barb
The Lord is really showing me the things I am "laying around on" might seem comfortable, but they are hindering me from walking in the promised Land with Him! I don't need to be in the wilderness , but picking up my mat and walking with Him. Cool. I was thinking today how I've managed to become so controlling about the real food God has for me and so out of control with physical food. I'm anorexic with my daily BREAD, while stuffing myself with ashes from the world! It was so freeing to have Him show me that, and be ab,e to turn it around today for my nourishment. I ate much less "food" and Binged on the Bread of Life. Thanks Heidi for your insight and honesty. don't be afraid to keep open to us, so we can be open too, and share and heal.. and walk in a way the is worthy of our God! Love Barb
Hi, Believerkjk – I know what you mean. I have found recently that I have tended to head into deeper relationships, taking big risks, only to have things "go wonky." It has been really hard to fight against my reaction now to go back into hiding…not to head into intimacy again. 🙁 In fact, even as I sit here and say this, I know I still resist. I will have to really listen to God and trust HIM. I have to remember it is HIM that I trust…or not. People WILL let me down. That is just the way of it.Hi, Karen – Oh wow! I am with you there! It is so easy to get caught up in the moment when something looks or sounds or feels good, failing to see the longer term impacts on my walk with God and relationships with others. I, too, need to give this up. Thanks for sharing this thought.Hi, Barb – Thank you for your encouragement. You know, it IS a struggle to be open. I am "supposed" to have this wired, to have it all figured out. I have worked with Judy Halliday of Thin Within for 10 years. I have collaborated on the writing of the book for goodness sake. You would think that if anyone could get the weight off, get the heart right, get the act together, it should have been me. So I struggle with all of that junk…bunches. One thing that God won't let me let go of…even if everything else goes…it is authenticity. I simply refuse to be bound my artificiality…Maybe it is prideful! Maybe it is stubbornness, but I think it has more to do with absolute confidence that I don't need to sugar-coat the truth and "save face" for God. He IS doing a new thing. Even if it is on a different time table than I prefer… Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi, Believerkjk – I know what you mean. I have found recently that I have tended to head into deeper relationships, taking big risks, only to have things "go wonky." It has been really hard to fight against my reaction now to go back into hiding…not to head into intimacy again. 🙁 In fact, even as I sit here and say this, I know I still resist. I will have to really listen to God and trust HIM. I have to remember it is HIM that I trust…or not. People WILL let me down. That is just the way of it.Hi, Karen – Oh wow! I am with you there! It is so easy to get caught up in the moment when something looks or sounds or feels good, failing to see the longer term impacts on my walk with God and relationships with others. I, too, need to give this up. Thanks for sharing this thought.Hi, Barb – Thank you for your encouragement. You know, it IS a struggle to be open. I am "supposed" to have this wired, to have it all figured out. I have worked with Judy Halliday of Thin Within for 10 years. I have collaborated on the writing of the book for goodness sake. You would think that if anyone could get the weight off, get the heart right, get the act together, it should have been me. So I struggle with all of that junk…bunches. One thing that God won't let me let go of…even if everything else goes…it is authenticity. I simply refuse to be bound my artificiality…Maybe it is prideful! Maybe it is stubbornness, but I think it has more to do with absolute confidence that I don't need to sugar-coat the truth and "save face" for God. He IS doing a new thing. Even if it is on a different time table than I prefer… Thanks for the encouragement!