Message
Some people are so comfortable with their problems that they reject every form of help that comes their way. For example, one would have thought that Jesus would have immediately commanded the man who had been sick for 38 years in today’s Bible reading to rise from his sickbed. However, the first thing Jesus asked him was, “Do you want to be made whole?” Jesus didn’t assume that the man wanted to be healed; He first asked him if he wanted to be healed before healing him.
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
In the Scripture above, Jesus heard a blind man crying out to Him for help. When He asked that the man be brought before Him, He didn’t assume that he needed healing, even though he was obviously blind. He proceeded to ask him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
There was once a woman who was sick, and we prayed earnestly for her to get well. When she didn’t get any better, we were surprised because we know that our God is the Great Physician. Therefore, we turned to Him and asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Is there anything we should be doing that we are not?” Then, He replied, “You are praying for healing for this woman, but have you asked her if she wants to be healed?” I thought to myself, “Of course, every sick fellow wants to be well,” but the Lord insisted that I ask her if she truly wanted to be healed. I did, and she responded, “No!” Surprised, I asked her why, and she replied, “When I was well, my husband always returned late from work. He would go from his workplace to a club. Since I became sick, he comes straight home to me as soon as he leaves his workplace. So, I don’t want to be well!”
Beloved, God has set before you life and death, blessing and curses, prosperity and poverty, freedom and bondage; however, He will not force His gift of healing, life, or salvation on anyone. If you are dealing with sickness, poverty, or any other negative situation in your life, cry out to God today if you indeed want a miracle from Him. He will heed your cry and meet you at the point of your needs.