When Jesus met the man who had been by the pool with an infirmity for 38 years, He asked him if he wanted to get well. The man’s response? “I have no one to put me in the water when it’s stirred up…”. Then Jesus said to him, “rise up, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well. 2 observations in these few verses of scripture that I’ll like to share.
First, sometimes we get so myopic in our thinking and set in our ways of how something ought to be done or an issue resolved, that we don’t see other options or opportunities even when they are staring us in the face. The same Jesus that others cried out to and followed for help and got their healing, approached the man at the pool and asked if he wanted to be healed. Yet the man didn’t recognize that this was an opportunity for his healing. Instead, he was focused on the pool as the only source of healing. So, how flexible is your mind? Are you able to recognize opportunities that God brings your way (sometimes even on a platter of gold)? What do you do with opportunities even when you recognize them? Question them? Over analyse them? Explain them away? The same way Jesus performed the same type of miracle in different ways is the same way the solution you need could come from diverse means. Be adaptable and sensitive to your environment – both physical and spiritual. That is the way to recognize and take advantage of opportunities and therein lies the success you desire.
Second, it was apparent to Jesus that the man didn’t realize the opportunity that was right in front of him. So, Jesus by-passed his response and decided to heal him without the man even making a request. I pray that for every situation that has been a thorn in your flesh or lasted for so long that you can’t see past it, because we have a High priest (Jesus) that is touched by the feelings of our infirmity, the mercy of God will speak for you this year, give you a testimony that will cause ears to tingle, jaws to drop, and make you a blessing to others.
Remain connected
Bolaji Ajayi
And the word became flesh 
God bless you for this timely word BJ, I strongly believe that the key spiritual external elements that we need to flourish on earth include Mercy and Favour..of which you have rightly highlighted the former in this write up..
What dropped in my spirit as i read this though is how we sometimes box God into a method concerning our expectations..
So sometimes, Jesus didn’t act until he was called or prevailed upon, while at other times he took the step to reach out to those in need.
Now people can also be a source of confusion as they try to offer advice on what to do because they focus on a certain way God has done something in the past for someone else when in fact that might not be how He will choose to deal with us in our own situation..
The bottom line therefore yet again is Mercy and grace to understand how God himself is dealing with us and to trust that he knows what he is doing and how he will do it..
Selah
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Thanks Tolu. Spot on. We sure have a way of attempting to box God in a corner. May God help us all and grant us the grace to trust and obey.
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