Title: Sin No More!

“And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:13-14 KJV

Devotion: When Adam and Eve sinned, it brought death upon all creation. Since then, man has suffered many pains throughout life here on earth. The consequences of sin brought suffering in many different forms—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The man here was healed by Jesus, suffered paralysis for thirty-eight years, and felt hopeless. Though Jesus healed him physically, there was something much deeper in him that was causing his misery. After he was found by Jesus again, he was told not to sin again or something worse than thirty-eight years of paralysis would happen. Apparently, it was the consequences of sin that caused him to suffer. The brokenness of his body was the result of the brokenness of his soul. Jesus was not just looking at his physical wellness but the restoration of his soul.

 Beloved, let us find hope in the true healing that Jesus brings, the healing of our souls. Whatever we go through in our physical lives, as long as we have the life of the Holy Spirit in our souls and the hope of future glory, our pains here on earth become bearable. We start to see that though it is also important to seek mental and physical wellness, we ultimately need God's mercy and grace for the healing of our broken souls.

 Prayer point: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your mercy and grace. We were once condemned and hopeless apart from You. Teach us not to just look at our physical and mental needs but also to the restoration of our souls as we pursue You. May we never allow the things of this world to sway us away from our real needs and may our souls find healing in You alone in Jesus' name. Amen!