A Straight Answer

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him,“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
John 5:5-9a NKJV

A new friend of mine SOAP'd on this particular Scripture passage. It was so good, that I wanted to share it with you. (SOAP=Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.)

In this story of Jesus and the man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus asked the man plainly, "Do you want to be made well?" It was a straightforward question requiring a straightforward answer - a simple yes or no would suffice. Did He get a straight answer? No, He did not. 

What Jesus got in reply was an excuse and an explanation. In this case, Jesus had mercy on the man and miraculously healed him anyway. I wonder how often the Godhead is frustrated with our answers to His simple yes-or-no questions. Will you...? Won't you...? Do you...? Don't you...?  Can we just give Him a straight answer without excuses? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for all the times we tried to give You excuses when all You wanted was a simple yes or no. Help us to truly stop and listen to what You're asking, so that we will answer You in Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen