Friday, September 02, 2011
I was returning at item to a store the other day and I prepared myself for the worst. Anytime I return something I have to look in the mirror and say to myself, "This is not going to be easy. Don't blow your testimony." I do this so that if it is easy, then I am pleasantly surprised. However, this return wasn't easy. So I was prepared. I don't want to mention the store because that is really not important. However, the name of the store has Home in it. And Depot.
So, I'm all prepped up and prayed up and I reach the return counter and the lady behind the counter puts the item number into the computer. It comes up blank. No sweat. I'm prepared. She puts the same number in again. Blank again. No problem. I've prayed. This same sequence of events happens seven times in a row. I can feel my flesh begin to push the Holy Spirit right out of my mind. I want to scream, "You can't keep putting the same number into the computer and expect a different result!" I didn't, but I really wanted to. Finally, she said, "This number doesn't seem to be working." What a revelation! I only thought that, I didn't say it. Prayer does work!!
This whole scene reminded me of something Albert Einstein once said: "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."
It also reminded me of a story in the life of Jesus. In John 5, Jesus comes to a pool of water by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. Beside the pool of water were blind, sick and crippled people waiting for the water to stir so they could be healed. Jesus sees one man in particular and asks him this simple question, "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6). The crippled man answers this way, "Lord, I don't have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first" (verse 7). Let me state his answer another way, "I keep putting in the same number but all I get is a blank screen."
Do you want to be healed appears to be such a simple question. But it isn't. Especially if I believe doing the same thing will get me different results.
I've got to be willing to put in a different number. I have to see my need for change and see Jesus as the One who can bring about that change. I've got to shake off the routine of what I'm doing and start doing something new with Jesus. Maybe it's more prayer time. Maybe it's more time in the Word. Maybe it's refusing to think the same thoughts. Whatever the case, Jesus comes alongside and asks, "Do you want to be healed?" If so, we've got to start by trusting Christ, His Word and His Way above everything else.
How about you? Do you want to be made well? Don't default to the same old thing. Trust Christ.
Pastor Tim
So, I'm all prepped up and prayed up and I reach the return counter and the lady behind the counter puts the item number into the computer. It comes up blank. No sweat. I'm prepared. She puts the same number in again. Blank again. No problem. I've prayed. This same sequence of events happens seven times in a row. I can feel my flesh begin to push the Holy Spirit right out of my mind. I want to scream, "You can't keep putting the same number into the computer and expect a different result!" I didn't, but I really wanted to. Finally, she said, "This number doesn't seem to be working." What a revelation! I only thought that, I didn't say it. Prayer does work!!
This whole scene reminded me of something Albert Einstein once said: "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."
It also reminded me of a story in the life of Jesus. In John 5, Jesus comes to a pool of water by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. Beside the pool of water were blind, sick and crippled people waiting for the water to stir so they could be healed. Jesus sees one man in particular and asks him this simple question, "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6). The crippled man answers this way, "Lord, I don't have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first" (verse 7). Let me state his answer another way, "I keep putting in the same number but all I get is a blank screen."
Do you want to be healed appears to be such a simple question. But it isn't. Especially if I believe doing the same thing will get me different results.
I've got to be willing to put in a different number. I have to see my need for change and see Jesus as the One who can bring about that change. I've got to shake off the routine of what I'm doing and start doing something new with Jesus. Maybe it's more prayer time. Maybe it's more time in the Word. Maybe it's refusing to think the same thoughts. Whatever the case, Jesus comes alongside and asks, "Do you want to be healed?" If so, we've got to start by trusting Christ, His Word and His Way above everything else.
How about you? Do you want to be made well? Don't default to the same old thing. Trust Christ.
Pastor Tim
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