Tom was working in the yard when his wife called to him that dinner was ready.
What did Tom do? He asked his wife if she had finished all the preparations? He went to the window of the dining room and peeped in to see if dinner was on the table. Seeing everything was in place, he finally went inside to wash up for dinner. Those were actions prompted by doubt.
In another scenario, what did Tom do? Without question, he quickly made his way to the bathroom, washed his hands and sat down at the table. His actions were prompted by faith.
When Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda by the sheep market in Jerusalem, he found many people who were physically impotent — blind, crippled and so forth. They were waiting for the “moving of the water,” believing they would be healed if somehow they could get into the troubled waters in time.
Jesus’ attention was drawn to a man who had suffered 38 years with an infirmity. We don’t know how long the man had waited on healing — he told Jesus he had no one to put him in the water when Jesus asked him, “Will you be made whole?”
This day would be different because on this day he would meet the Healer and Savior. “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,” Jesus said. There was no questioning, no faltering, no call for a lift — the man immediately rolled up his bed and walked. His actions were prompted by faith.
No longer would he have to be carried and left somewhere to while away the hours and be looked upon with pity or disgust. He could now live; be a part of the community; be mobile and be productive.
And it happened with a simple act of faith — “Take up your bed and walk.” There had to be a deliberate effort to obey. That obedience was the result of faith in the One who can do all things.
Let your actions be prompted by faith always.
