The view from my backyard includes a body of water named Ivanhoe Lake. I enjoy watching the wind blow across the water, the sun glistening on the surface, ducks swimming and people fishing.
Sometimes I sit by the lake and watch the wind dance on the surface of the water. It blows from one direction and then another, causing ripples in the water. You can’t see the wind, but you can feel it and see its effect on the water. The Spirit of God is like that. You can’t see it, but you can feel it and see the effects on everything around you.
In these uncertain times, I think it is important to sense or feel the movement of the Spirit in the unsettledness of our life, family and community, both national and international. The Spirit is at work, but we need to be sensitive to what He is and what He will do and to translate that movement to our world.
There once was a pool in Bethesda near the sheep gate in Jerusalem (John 5: 1-17). It was said that when the Angel of the Lord stirred the water, healing would come to the first person who entered the water. As you might imagine, people with different diseases came to the pool in hope of restoration and healing.
On one occasion, Jesus passed by the pool and encountered a man who had been lame “in his sickness” for 38 years. He was never able to get into the water before the others who were more mobile or had assistance. Jesus recognized this and asked him if he wanted to get well. He told him to rise, take up his pallet and walk. In obedience, he got up and was made well. On that day the sick man encountered the Spirit of the Living God in the person of Jesus and was healed.
In these uncertain times I think we can learn a few lessons from this story:
First: Perseverance We may experience the struggle for a time but there is HOPE if we TRUST in God’s provision.
Second: Presence Anticipate the presence of God in the living every day and connect with Him regularly.
Third: Peace God provides healing, whether it is from the Coronavirus or unity in our community, nation or world. We need to give Glory to God through it all.
Footnote: If the Spirit stirs the waters it might mean it is time for you to jump into the waters and receive the Miracle of God’s grace and personal healing or it may mean that the Spirit is moving you to offer a hand to someone that needs your assistance to get into the pool for their miracle of healing. We can help others around us who are experiencing difficulty in these days. Be a good neighbor in the name of Jesus.
That’s the view from my backyard.
Have you ever noticed how many lessons are taught and learned around water in the Bible? Creation, Noah, Jonah, Moses, John the Baptist, Disciples on the Sea of Galilee, and the Samaritan Woman to name a few.
