John 5:2-9  ² Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.  ³ In these lay many invalids– blind, lame, and paralyzed.  ^4,5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”  ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.”  ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.”  ⁹ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

 We say we want to improve ourselves. Maybe we need to get into better shape or we want to take some classes. We should be getting prepared, making arrangements, and even getting started, but we find ourselves putting things off and making excuses rather than making plans. What we need to do is to take that first step. Once we get started it is easier to keep going.

We are often this way with faith matters as well. We say we want to read our Bible and pray every day or we want to get more involved in ministry and mission, but we find ourselves being more talk than action. We have faith, but we can’t seem to get ourselves moving. Jesus says to us, “Stand up and walk.” Take the first step and commit.

Lord, help us take that first step of faith. We know you will walk with us. Amen.