Today I Pray for Better Things

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    Today I pray for better things..

    Lord teach me to Love

    John Chapter 5 vs 1-16

    Have you thought about why Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda where lay a great multitude of impotent

    folk?

    Surely not just a chance event!

    A clue is in the events of the previous setting Jn 4:34

    Jesus said unto them , My meat (Work) is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work

    After this there was a feast of the Jews (Passover) and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

    Now there was at Jerusalem by the sheep market, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda,

    having five porches.

    He had come to the Pool to do the will of Him who sent Him.

    What was His Fathers will?

    His Father had sent an angel down at a certain season into the Pool and troubled the water : whosoever then

    first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

    Jesus knowing this, journeyed to that Pool for a teaching lesson.

    First of all to acknowledge His Fathers work and proclaim His Sonship to the Father as Him who would

    finish His work.

    Second to show the selfishness, greed and the lack of compassion of mankind.

    The selfish was those who made sure they would be first in the water, passing others by, being made whole,

    not returning to help those less fortunate.

    The cry from impotent folk for mercy and compassion fell on deaf ears.

    When Jesus saw a certain man there which had an infirmity thirty and eight years, lie, and knew that he had

    been now a long time in that case.

    No doubt turning to His disciples to convey the powerful lesson of life, said to the man Wilt thou be made

    whole?

    And the merciful reply from the invalid to the Lord and within range of the ears of the learned and of the

    others within the five porches.Sir I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool,

    but (in my frail existence) while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

    Jesus said unto him Rise, take up thy bed and walk!And immediately the man was made whole.

    How many of us pass others by, those crying out for mercy while ignoring their greatest need?

    Have we denied taking others into the waters of baptism, by closing our mouths and entering ourselves into

    the water seeking cleansing?

    Or possibly failed to hear the sorrows and suffering of others by being consumed by our own needs and

    wants and desires.

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    The gospel of Jesus Christ is requisite for every man woman and child so all may profit or that all may have

    Eternal Life.

    Many years ago there was a young man who had received the gospel of Jesus Christ through missionary

    efforts. When he was baptized he began to read the Book of Mormon. In his excitement he began to read tohis aging parents the message of life contained within the Book.

    He wanted so much for his parents to have the happiness and fulfillment he had found.

    He began to read to them night after night with the hope that the message would be received into their

    hearts as he had received it, knowing it would be a blessing to them in their old age and prepare them for

    the life to come beyond the veil.

    In his sorrows he sought God to help him with his righteous desires.In the dark of night, in supplication and an outpouring of his heart, he asked God to help him bring the

    message of the Restoration of the gospel to his aging parents.

    God, in His mercy sent an angel to the young man to answer his question.

    With a pertinent and powerful lesson, the words from the mouth of the angel, not audibly but piercing the

    heart

    David, why do you come unto me alone!?

    As time passed by the words weighed heavy on his mind.And then with clarity and conviction came the explanation

    We cannot compel another nor constrain another to the accept the truth.

    We can only act as instruments or mouthpieces to assist or convey the truth

    Others must accept the truth through their own efforts after all we can do.

    Then came the final revealed truth..

    Like those with infirmities, lying by the pool or those in our paths. People we meet everyday and especially

    those in need, the poor, the maimed, the blind and the disabled.

    If we fail to hear the pleadings and cries for mercy and pass them by, in judgement God will pass us by.

    God has given those who have the Restored gospel to share. To declare His word to the world, so that we

    may not return to His presence and hear the words that would condemn us Why do you come unto mealone?!

    Where are those by the Pool (figuratively)who wait for Salvation? They are your neighbours, your friends,

    and your family. These are they who need the gospel of life and Salvation.

    Sitting, waiting for Redemption.

    Do you pass others by expecting a miracle, clamoring into the water hoping for Salvation

    If you want Eternal lifebring someone alongfor in Heaven is for hugs, holding hands and humanity

    Do not expect to go home alone!

    Joseph Atwater

    April 2011

    Melbourne Australia

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