Getting Bogged Down

I know you may be “too old” for this – but has anyone seen that show "Higgly Town Heroes" on Disney? You don’t have to raise your hand if you don’t want. My kids watch it. Well, in every episode, there is a mini-crisis – like Wayne’s cat is in the tree or Yoube misses his grandparents. They try to figure out a way to help this person. Then, Twinkle offers her way to get the job accomplished – some far fetched, crazy way. In fact, her way if physically impossible. She talks about aliens and digging man made holes to China. Her way is quickly discounted because of the details – it isn’t physically possible.

Let’s look at a story involving Christ in which people got so bogged down by the details that they failed to see the true glory of God.

Read John 5:1-15

There are 2 truths in this story:
1. Jesus once again broke down barriers – He didn’t care that it was the Sabbath.
- The Sabbath literally means, “day of rest”. It was the day set aside where you could not work. You couldn’t mow your lawn.
- Now enter Jesus – he sees someone who has been ill for many, many years. He knows his pain so he asks him if he wants to get well. He doesn’t care what day it is – he sees someone in need, he's going to help them. Helping people should not be constrained by days.
- If you had the power to heal people – would you just let him be because it is a holy day or would you help him?
- Understand this – the Sabbath is an important day and needs to be honored – but to not heal someone because or it leads me to my next point

2. The Religious leaders let the dos and don’ts of religion to blur their view
- They couldn’t accept that God had done a wonderful thing in this person’s life – they were too stuck on the rules – they didn’t understand Grace – Ephesians 2:8,9 – it is by grace we are saved not by the things we do; the rules we obey
- To often we get bogged down by the details; so bogged down that we fail to see Christ work in a miraculous way
- How often we get bogged down with the technicalities?
o we think that having a relationship with God means no more fun
o we think that we can never follow Christ because of our past - God certainly doesn't want us
o we think going to Church on Sunday allows us to check off the box – we make Christ a religion that happens on Sunday and forget the relationship

There are so many things that could bog us down from following Christ. The thing you have got to ask yourself is are they just excuses or are they legit.

What's the worse that can happen if you choose to follow Christ? You lose all your friends overnight? OF COURSE NOT! Remember God blesses those who seek him Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV)

Challenge

My challenge for you all is to put the details aside and seek out Christ. Meaning how do you know what following Christ is like unless you try it yourself. We can assume what it will be like but until we experience Christ for ourselves, we'll never really know the miraculous healing power he has; the blessings he wants to give us. This week, Seek out Christ! You won't be disappointed!