Poolside Sabbath
Today is the Sabbath, a day of rest to bask in God’s presence and refrain from work. Susan, my wife, has worked over 50 hours in the last three days alone. Needless to say she is wiped out. And in two days we will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary (checks can be made out to Matthew and Susan.. j/k). That being said we took the opportunity to spend the day together. The goal was to drive up the coast of Connecticut to find a beach where the three of us (Mia came along too) could chill together. While the drive up Route 167 was gorgeous, we could not find one public beach where we could park and enjoy the sights. So we had to settle for lunch at a marina. Wanting to be able to get in the water, we came back home to go to the pool.
Over the past few days, I have found myself re-engaging in devotional time with God in His Word. This is not to say that I had stopped entirely, but I felt that my devotional time had come to a place of complacency, as there was no real consistency or direction. So along with some prayer and encouraging conversations with some friends, I committed to reading the corresponding chapter for the day out of Proverbs as well as some out of another book of the Bible, which I have picked the Gospel of John. When we made it out to the poolside, I opened to the chapter where I had left off yesterday, Chapter 5. The title here is “The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath.” (I actually laughed out loud… truly it is the LIVING WORD!) A couple of things stuck out to be about this story that I want to share with you.
1 – JESUS GOES WHERE FUNKY PEOPLE ARE – Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a feast. Upon arrival he makes a b-line for the pool of Bethesda, you know the one by the Sheep Gate. Who are there? “A multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.” (:3) I love this about Jesus, He ALWAYS initiates! He goes right into the cesspool of society to reveal His Father’s love and power!
2 – JESUS WANTS TO HEAR FROM US – While it may be obvious to us that these people want to be healed, Jesus doesn’t take it for granted. He turns to one of the invalids who had been this way for 38 years and asks him, “Do you want to be healed?” (:6) Honestly, had I been there that day and overheard this question I would have laughed as it is bordering on ridiculous to ask an invalid that question. But the more I think about it, two things dawn on me. 1) Not everyone wants to be healed. I mean really, truly, honestly wants to be healed; and 2) Jesus wants to hear us articulate our need.
Have you ever met someone who seems perfectly content living in his or her funk? It is as though they have resigned themselves to living in sin, brokenness, poverty, shamefulness, etc. Their family members and friends look on and shake their head realizing that they have so much more potential, but they chose to remain in the situation they are in. In some respects the saying is true that Jesus will help those who help themselves. Jesus tells the man, “take up your bed and walk” and “at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” (:8,9)
I don’t know about you today, but I am tired of being hypocritical, stagnant, lying around in my complacency and accepting mediocracy! I believe that Jesus is coming to me and you today, meeting us in our funk and telling us to stand up and walk as sons and daughters of the most High God. How do we do it? How about “take up your cross and follow Him!” (Luke 9:23)
Blessings from the poolside!
Posted by matthew gamble on August 23, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Filed Under: |
15 Comments |
0 Trackbacks
Comments:
One thing that frustrates me at times is when people latch onto a seemingly insignificant point or issue of something that I say or write. Here is a recent comment that I received from the above post:
“Hi Matthew,
I stumbled upon your website and I am quite disturbed by this passage:
“‘A multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.’ (:3) I love this about Jesus, He ALWAYS initiates! He goes right into the cesspool of society to reveal His Father’s love and power!”
I would hardly consider the “blind, lame, and paralyzed” as the “cesspool of society”, and Jesus certainly would not categorize them as that either. Are saying that anyone who is not physically perfect is somehow less than human? Or that they are the dregs of society? I am appalled that you would think those afflicted with physical ailments are garbage.
Your assessment is hardly Christian.
Sincerely,
Ben”
Am I out of line when I responded to Ben’s email by telling him to “relax”. I mean it seems to me that some people are just out to find issues to get bent out of shape about. I have to wonder at times if this is why people get frustrated with Christians.
Where you offended as well? I would love to hear it? And what would it look like if we affirmed a couple of points that a speaker says before slamming the entire message!?
mwg
Posted by matthew gamble on August 28, 2008 at 09:05 PM | #no you were not out of line, at the time, they were concitered the lowest of low because it was believed that these afflictions were thecause of sins commited by the person or the persons family.
Posted by heidi fuchs on August 28, 2008 at 09:12 PM | #Heidi Fuchs
We get letters from people like this at the union magazine occasionally. You think to yourself, “Did you actually READ the story? Were you listening AT ALL?!” *sigh* Just gotta learn to let it roll off your back and let Jesus handle ‘em.
Posted by Alicia Adams on August 28, 2008 at 10:02 PM | #I would say that Christ did see the lame, blind and paralyzed as being in a cesspool. He would not consider them the cesspool. Instead he would consider their condition a cesspool compared to the glory he had in mind for them. And he “cleaned” things up often by restoring them physically. He did not leave them in a broken condition. We can have respect for those with physical limitation while at the same time looking forward to the day they, like all of us, no longer suffer from a sinful world. The point here is that Christ never gravitated toward what was easy. Like He said,"I came to heal the sick”.
Posted by Tom Butler on August 28, 2008 at 10:07 PM | #Although both Ben and Jesus would hardly characterize the “blind, lame, and paralyzed” as the “cesspool of society,” most everyone else in the time of Jesus would. I am certain that most readers of the Bible would know exactly what you were talking about, Matthew, and realize that in the eyes of the world at the time, those with physical and/or mental ailments were not only scorned, but ridiculed and thought to be “sinners,” deserving the condition. If we all could take Matthew 7:1-5 to heart, we’d realize that we need to worry about the plank in our own eye – which is exactly what I recognize when I think about how ridiculous people were...and I am.
I believe that people choose to be offended—I was not, and am actually quite shocked that someone would take what you wrote SO far out of context. There will always be those who pick apart every little statement in search of controversy—they are generally quite successful in the field of political ad campaigning; but I’m a big proponent of separation of church and state.
Maybe in the future, if you’re concerned about how someone will interpret what you write, you could just put quotation marks around the potentially “offensive” word; now it’s not perceived as your “opinion”. It’s pretty hard for a Bible-believing Christian to be offended by a biblically stated historical fact – though there always seems to be someone willing to try…
Posted by Patrick Phelps on August 28, 2008 at 10:22 PM | #Hey Matthew,
Great write by the way and the comment was taken out of context. Reading the complete article the message that you make is clear and not derogatory towards the “blind, lame and paralyzed” as expressed by Ben. Maybe you got him on a bad day? We’re about to enter the sabbath down here mate! Keep your head up and keep doing His good work as you always do!
Blessings
Glenn and Kaz
PS: Kaz gave birth to a baby boy August 16th 08. Named him Matthew Donald
Posted by Glenn Houssenloge on August 28, 2008 at 11:24 PM | #Hi Matthew-
I wanted to comment real quickly about your post-first I know you and your character and heart so therefore know that what you wrote was not a blatant disregard for the “multitude of invalids...”
I know that you have true love for everyone-no matter who they are or what they do-so, I’m going to be honest with you.
I did not know what your post would say and I was curious, and read it with an open mind-as if I were someone who may not be a Christian or a believer of the Bible. And when I came to the part where you say you love that Jesus goes ‘right into the cesspool of society’-referring to the invalids-I have to say it made me cringe a little.
Before I even continued to read-knowing what you truly meant, and knowing what the gospel says-it still made me cringe, not because it offended me-but because I knew that it would offend someone who maybe has a disability or a family member with a disability-OR someone who is not a Christian knowing where you were coming from.
All the other comments were correct-you were not in the wrong to defend yourself because YOU knew what you meant and God knew what you meant-as well as other Christians, butin the same respect, as a leader and a Pastor-someone that a non-Christian might turn to for some sort of answer-that is where you have to be careful in the words you choose.
Again, I know your heart and know that you have the purest of intentions when you speak, because I know that God leads you-but, being your friend and sister in Christ-I also feel that I can be honest with you and tell you that yes, it could be offensive to a lot of people-people that are sensitive to the issue and people that don’t know Christ. Yes, maybe they are ultra sensitive sometimes but you also have to have a heart of empathy & try and look at it from their perspective and with the eye of a non-Christian who may not know the gospel.
I’m just watching your back:)
With that said-Andru and I love you guys and miss you more than you know-give Susan our love and tell her to not work herself to death-hope to see you on the East coast sometime!
Love and blessings- Monica
Ha-guess it wasn’t a quick comment:)
Posted by Monica Edwards on August 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM | #Hey bro, was really offended by your comment - NOT!! Just jiving bro. You said it well. The guy needs to take a “chill pill.” Keep it comin bro. Good to see you catching up with your wife. Congrats on your upcoming wedding anniversary.
Posted by Cheonneth Strickland on August 29, 2008 at 05:37 AM | #Nicole and I are having our 10th wedding anniversary on Sept 6. I’m taking her somewhere special - a Youth Rally that I am organising with Pr E Hypolite as speaker. I know what your thinkin. We are going away after that for the night in a swank Hotel on the coast. Take care bro and keep smiling. Don’t let this guy get under your skin!!
Hey matt,
enjoyed your blog, and reading the comments afterward as well.
anyone who’s done cultural research into biblical times should be aware that the social norm of the day dictated that those with disease/handicap/flaws etc were excluded from “healthy” society and considered to be the dregs of humanity. it wasn’t really that much different than the caste system that’s in India and other places. so your comment was well-founded, based on the cultural norms of that time.
i think what your offended readers were missing is the transitional application to whatever our society today would consider “the untouchables”. That category differs in every culture, but every culture’s still got an “untouchable” social class.
That’s where Jesus went. Where people were unloved, for whatever reason. He went there and physically demonstrated his acknowledgement of their worth and being. Then he challenged them to accept a better life.
What amazes me is how seamlessly Jesus flowed in society from the wealthy to the poor, from the rulers to the outcasts. Neither group of people scared or intimidated him. A lot of times today people seem to think that we should only serve one extreme or the other, either the elite or the homeless.
But everyone needs Jesus just the same. Even us....
Posted by Sarah on August 29, 2008 at 08:54 AM | #Hi, Matthew!!
I just love your writing and having your words lead me in ways that sometimes I hadn’t thought of before. Keep up the great work for the Lord!!
This is problem that I’ve encountered before with the short sightedness of people. They latch on to a word or a phrase and thats all the see or hear. Just pray for them… thats what I do.
Hope you and Susan had a great anniversary.. I did remember it but then I forgot to acknowledge it… sowwy :(
Love ya brother,
Posted by Debbie on August 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM | #Deb
Hi Matt,
I think that it’s to bad that this gentleman clearly didn’t read the blog with an open heart. Don’t worry about it....it was a great reminder for me. I thnk also, he doesn’t know you, like some of us here, he doesn’t know where your coming from, and he doesn’t know that you humble yourself before God and others all the time. (: God Bless you Matt. God is using you in a very real way. You are so missed over here. Hi to Susan.
Kimberley (tall girl with curly hair, LOL)
Posted by Kimberley Stanwick Chaussee on August 29, 2008 at 08:44 PM | #Dude, Some people’s children!!!! They just don’t get it, no matter how you say it… Keep bringing it from the heart, it confirms what I shared today so thanks bro. galatianssixnine!
Posted by Chris Donavan on August 30, 2008 at 05:01 PM | #Matt! the world needs more ppl who say it how it is.. the english language lends itself to some interesting double meanings sometimes unf.. and seems like Ben mis read your message and jumped to a conclusion..
It makes interesting discussion and a cup of milo made with NZ milk (chilled) would be what Id be recommending to Ben.. he he
I’m so glad Jesus walked with all sides of humanity.. what a legend he was!
peace and keep rollin on
from Bryce
Posted by Bryce Wastney on August 31, 2008 at 04:27 AM | #“JESUS GOES WHERE FUNKY PEOPLE ARE”
I can see how “cesspool” could be interpreted as insulting, but Jesus didn’t spent his time worrying about being politically correct - he spent his time going where the funky people were.
Posted by Mario on August 31, 2008 at 04:57 AM | #hey Matthew/peoples!
I can honestly say that once upon a time i used to be exactly like Ben. Close-minded. The minute someone started saying things wrong or ridiculing anything to do with Jesus and all that jazz the barriers would come up and I’d be so defensive. My advice to brother ben, take that cup of milo bro bryce was offering (the one with chilled kiwi milk and some choc-chip cookies Mmm… lol)and open up your mind. We all have the right to our own views but as Christians, regardless of what he says, we should hear a brother out not slam him down because he said something that didn’t sit right with us. Look at the bigger picture, go back to what you thought was so offensive and maybe, even though it sounds a bit weird, within the context that it’s written in it makes perfect sense. It reminds me of that verse in Psalm (forgot where exactly [eww how sadd. my badd]) - be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to become angry. It migh’ve saved you alot of time and embarrassment dude!
I do agree with sis Monica (i think it was?) when she says it’s all in the wording but to an extent. Us Christians, again, sometimes get so offended over one word that we forget to look at the greater picture that it’s used in. Should Matthew Gamble re-word his phrases? Heavens nah! Matthew, you are who you are, no need to put sprinkles on something you say so no-one gets offended. The truth is never pretty peoples!! Be mindful but don’t sweat. have a milo! so you can go and go and go lol.
Blessings for reading my 2c lol
Chiaz
Posted by CHIAZ on September 29, 2008 at 01:23 AM | #Page 1 of 1 pages