Luke 5:24 – "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." (NKJV)

When Ron broke a bone in his back, he couldn't manage the stairs. In fact, even the couch offered no comfort, so he spent his days on a borrowed sponge mat on our living room floor. Thankfully, surgery brought both pain relief and freedom of movement once more.

A few days later, I pointed at that sponge and jokingly said to my hubby, "Arise! Take up your bed and walk!"

And that previously crippled fellow picked up that mat and walked it across the street to its owners.

If we have asked Jesus into our lives, He has forgiven our sins, as He did for the paralyzed man. "Yay!" we cry! We get up! And we stand there, as though we didn't understand the rest of Christ's sentence: "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

The mat guy knew what to do. He did what Jesus said to do. "Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God." (Luke 5:25 NKJV)

What has Jesus told you to do? Aren't you tired of standing in the same old place? I sure am. Being a Christian involves more than just getting up. It demands a life of continuous obedience to Jesus, our Lord and King. It's all part of our journey towards our heavenly home. Of course, it's a little scary. The way is only visible a step or two at a time. However, when we know the direction we are going, the path is easy to choose.

Prayer: Lord, we've been standing happily in our salvation, but You yearn for our feet to get moving in the area You've pointed out to us. Give us the gumption to pick up our feet and start out in the obedience that leads towards Home. For Christ's sake, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Brenda Wood <brenda.w@nextcom.ca>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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