Discerning Divine Visitation (I)

“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.” (John 5:4, New King James Version).

This is the key Bible verse for the “Come and See” devotional today.

This account describes events at the Pool of Bethesda and reveals that we may fail to take advantage of divine visitation. This shortcoming could be because of spiritual blindness or because of a pre-conceived expectation of how God should deliver the miracle (read John 5.1-15). The scene at the Pool of Bethesda was described as follows: “in these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 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.” (John 5.3-4, New King James Version).

The biblical account describes how Jesus met a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years and had been at the pool side all that time waiting for his chance to be healed. This ailing man nearly missed his miracle because he could not recognise The Balm of Gilead -Jesus and had conditioned his mind on how his miracle was going to happen. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he answered: “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.” (John 5.7, New King James Version). The man simply failed to discern his divine visitation in the form of Jesus Christ although it was unlikely that the other sick people at the pool recognised Jesus, either. They might also have failed to ask Him for help because they all had the same preconceived ideas of how they would be cured of their illnesses.

Many of us are like this man at Bethesda, because we often fail to recognise the presence of God. We may have preconceptions, such as a fixed idea of how God should intervene in our challenges. However, the Bible asserts: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways .” (Isaiah 55:8, New King James Version).Also, Jesus Christ performed the same miracles in different ways. Although the Sovereign God is consistent in fulfilling His promises, He alone decides how.

God does not change and His power never fades. Thus, (Isaiah 40:28b, New King James Version states: “the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” His works remain the same: to proclaim good news to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, give freedom to the captives, comfort all who mourn and give life instead of death. You stand the risk of missing out on your miracles when you pre-conditioned your mind on how it should happen.

Let us pray: “Father, open my spiritual eyes to discern your ways, to be sensitive to your presence. Help me not to be found wanting on the day of your visitation,” in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

This message was brought to you by Evangelical Ministries International (EMI). We know this message has been a blessing to you. Please share your testimonies with us by visiting our website www.evangelicalministries.org or contact us on info@evangelicalministries.org. God bless you!