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. 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 analyze  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.  

Secondly, 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 and jaws to drop, and make you a blessing to others. 

Stay connected 

Bolaji Ajayi  

In 1 Samuel 16, shortly after God asked Samuel to anoint David as king, the spirit of God departed from Saul and an evil spirit tormented him. One of Saul’s attendants suggested they find someone who can play the lyre to play so the king can feel better when he’s tormented. Then another servant mentioned the name of David having seen him play before. What’s interesting in all this is the fact that, God orchestrated 2 servants to be present and give the advice and referral that works in God’s own favour and aligns to His purpose. Why was it the advice of someone to play the lyre that Saul accepted? How come the other servant remembered David (this reminds me of the story of Joseph as well). I pray that as you utilize the gifts that God has placed in you, God will organize events to work in your favour and take you to the place He has planned for you.

A side note however is that you must have been doing something with the gift. If David hadn’t played the lyre for people to hear, the servant won’t have had a reference point. Same applies to Joseph – the interpretation in the prison opened the door of remembrance for him in the palace. The gift of a man, makes room for him. Have you discovered the gifts that God has placed in you? What are you doing with them? That gift is waiting for activation to launch you to the phase of your life in fulfilment of God’s plans and purposes.

Secondly, you should prepare yourself for the next phase even in your current phase. When the servant referred David, he didn’t just say he played the lyre; he said “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the lord is with him.” 1 Sam 16:18. To stand before kings, the gift is only a baseline, there are other requirements. Same thing with Joseph when he was called, it is recorded that he prepared himself physically before even appearing before the king and once he spoke, even the king acknowledged that he was wise and God was with him. Your character and walk with God are critical to achieving that great future that eye has not seen nor ear heard, which God has planned for you. May you not truncate God’s plan for you by lack of character or lack of the fear of God.

Food for thought: Am I using the gift(s) God has given me or is it just lying to waste? How have I added value to it and myself?

Information is knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance. It typically affects our actions, reactions, decisions etc. 

In Mark 5, a leader of the synagogue, Jairus, had a sick daughter on the verge of death and He sought out Jesus to come and heal her. His words were “my daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so she will be healed and will live.” There is a certainty in his words. You can tell that he believed that once Jesus touched his daughter all will be well. Jesus did go with him and while on their way, information was sent to the man that his daughter was dead. Immediately, Jesus turned to the man and said “Don’t be afraid. Just believe”. Why did Jesus say that to the man? And why did He do this immediately the information was communicated? One clear reason is that the man got news that his situation has gone from sickness to death. He had a bad situation before coming to Jesus and now, even with Jesus walking with him, it’s now gotten worse – in human terms ‘his situation is dead’. That was a fact. His daughter was dead and that meant there was no more hope. Recall that Heb 11:1 tells us that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Jairus’s hope was however about to be dashed. The information provided was going to puncture his “balloon of faith” hence the prompt intervention by Jesus – “Don’t be afraid. Just believe”. Believe that you will see your daughter again. Isn’t that what Jairus hoped for? And what did Jairus do, he believed. How do I know? He saw what he hoped for. His daughter did come back to life. His dead situation resurrected. 

What can we take away from this story?

We need to watch who speaks into your life and the kind of information you allow take root in your heart – they could derail us from seeing the salvation we’ve prayed for.

Our actions should not be based solely on what we see or hear in the physical but on what God is saying to us per time through His word, in the place of fellowship with Him or through His servants. God is always speaking. Are we always tuned in?

As we filter every information through the lenses of Christ himself, all our dying or dead situations will come back to life.  

Stay connected,

Bolaji Ajayi