SUMMARY: Pool party
OVERVIEW: Jesus heals the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. This act angers the Jewish leaders, but not as much as Jesus’ declaration to be God. When they hear this, the Jewish leaders plot to kill him.
BIG IDEA: God is always at work in the world and your life.
KEY VERSE: John 5:18 (Pharisees response to Jesus)
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
I will invite you to join me, working in ways that contradict religions, traditions and customs. I care about people more than those things. I will invite you to join me in places that aren’t comfortable or acceptable. I will ask you to get involved at times that don’t fit nicely into your schedule or rituals. I will invite you to invest in people who are dangerous, lost, unpopular or outsiders. People who have nothing to repay you with. People who are messy and have complicated problems. People who do not understand your church culture, but can understand love.
Don’t worry about pleasing the folks who claim to have it all together. Instead, follow me into the broken lives of people who hurt and grieve and starve and need. Don’t worry about what you don’t have to give. I will take over and live and love and serve through you. Let go of your pride and your comfort and your plans, and follow me humbly, follow me desperately, follow me expectantly into the wild, overflowing life of sacrifice.
NEXT STEP
Interrupt your schedule this month to serve somewhere unusual. Is there a neighbor who needs some help? Is there a group in your city that serves the homeless or others in need? Is there a project your spouse, parent, child or sibling needs your help with? Find out and make time this month.
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