Category: Devotion of the Day

I HAVE NO MAN…

Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
John 5:7

This poor man had been waiting for his chance to get into the healing waters for a long, long time. Today a crippled and infirm world crowds the pools of Bethesda. But how many never quite make it to healing and release! Whatever they seek, somebody else beats them to it.

In the presence of the Son of God this man was bemoaning the fact that he had no one to help him: “Sir, I have no man…” Are you waiting for human help to get you to your heart’s desire? Better than all angel-troubled waters, better than the vain help of man, there stands One saying, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

Never were earth’s pools of Bethesda as crowded as today. But you do not have to wait for an angel – some strange unearthly intervention – nor for a man – mere human assistance. Greater than angels or men, Jesus is at hand. Put your case in His hands and do His bidding. Men turn today to the supernatural in unguided mysticism and to the human in unspiritual psychiatry. All that you need is Jesus.

ABIDING AND ABOUNDING

He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.
John 15:5

Why do so few Christians do business for God in daily public life? Because they do no business with Him in private devotional life. When people do not mean business with Christ in their hearts they will not do business for Christ with their hands. Too often there has been mental acceptance of a proposition without heart surrender to a Person. There has been a superficial profession: The Word has been heard and even received with joy, but there has been “no root.” Or there has been a superficial dedication, like the son in the parable, who said, “I go, sir,” but did not show up in the vineyeard. If all who have “volunteered” to be missionaries had gone the world would have been evangelized.

When we really abide in Christ we bring forth much fruit. Alas, many branches will be cast into the fire and burned. If we are truly “with” Him we will gather for Him (Mt. 12:30).

Those who mean business with Him do business for Him. When we abide we abound.