John 5:1-15, 1 Peter 1:17-25, Ecclesiastes 12, Jeremiah 39-43

Recall:
...he [Jesus] said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way someone steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." John 5:7b-8

Reflect:
I love Marva Dawn's comments regarding this passage in the Renovare study Bible: "This narrative of Jesus' third sigh exhibits another obstacle to Christ's healing and our belief—our excuses. What rationalizations keep us from receiving whatever God wants to do for, in, or through us?"

How true! How true! I always have a reason, I always have an excuse as to why I can't go deeper into the Divine. And God just shakes his head (excuse my masculine anthropomorphism) and says, OK. He loves me the same, he'll keep inviting me, but he isn't ever going to force me.

Respond:
God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for constantly wooing me to yourself. Make me mindful of my excuses, my good reasons for not responding to your call.