Pick up your mat at walk! (:

Scripture: John 5:10-18

Verse: John 4:11

But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk,''

Verse: John 4:17

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him' not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

"The man who made me well said to me, "Pick up your mat and walk."

The invalid only obeyed God, for He was the one worth obeying. Jesus performed one of his miracles on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was practiced as a day of rest. For God rested on the 7th day after creating everything, even so I don't think the Holy Spirit was at rest. The Holy Spirit was working through its creations. God never stops working, the Holy Spirit never stops moving, and Jesus will never stop loving. In the same way, let us be constantly at work for the Lord. No law should restrain us besides God's law. The Invalid continued to walk, and continued to obey God's commands instead of the Old law. He found God to be above all else. Not only did he stop there, but after realizing who healed him, he continued to share his testimony. There is no such thing as taking a vacation from God. Wherever we go, He's always there, and there's always something we can do.

Application:

I personally think Sundays (Sabbath) are the days when we need to work our best. "Work" sounds like something we are forced to do. Our duties such as sharing the good news (just as the invalid did) should be performed out of love. I should serve the Lord because I ENJOY Him, not because I feel like I have to. Is it really "work" if it's something we enjoy? Yups, it’s the best job of all(:

My application is to change my perspective upon my way of "serving". Like I said, on Sundays, I tend to lack energy and not work to the best of my potential. Being lazy, using my tiredness as an excuse. None of that should matter if my love for God is overflowing. I loveee praiseleading. It was my way of serving and praising God to my fullest. Dancing and singing my heart out for God was something I enjoyed to do. It still is, but not as much. I praise lead for my Jolly Jumpers (Pre-school kids, 3-5). Haha' it was my favorite thing to do praising with the kids but lately, I feel like it's something I'm obliged to do. I do it merely out of commitment instead of enjoyment. When I return on Sunday, I shall praise my best.

Currently Listening: Devotion- Hillsongs
“I’ve been working, this salvation out on my knees

There’s nothing better than knowing,

We are redeemed.

I’m believing trusting in creative hands,

I’m praying for our world to bow to your plan.

I will take up my cross (haha’ mat in this case)

And follow you Lord.”

Prayer:

- Consistency: Keep doing QT with my best effort, and just keep working. I f'reals am the "Play now, work later" type. It's not working. haha' I want to "work hard, and play harder" when I deserve it. It should be the same in my service to God. "work now, worship harder"

- For today to be a productive day with my work
- Gah, for the rain to stop. I really do love rain, it's really refreshing, but lately' It's to the point where it really effects my mom's business (as the same for other businesses.)