Close but not connected

I believe we all understand the word close and connected. As much there is a little bit of similarities they are two different words with different meanings.

In John 5:2-9 KJV "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath."

At some point we must have read or heard about the story of the man by the pool of Bethesda. For 38 years he was so close to the pool but never connected to the power that delivered others who went to the pool before or after him. From the passage above we can see that the man was not the only one in need but others got connected and did not just stay close and their needs were met.

In Acts 3:1-7 KJV "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."

A similar story to that of the man by the pool of Bethesda is the man by the beautiful gate. He came there daily helped by well wishers just to beg for alms. He must have some good techniques that will prompt people to give him when he begs but on the day he got his healing he didn't just stay close to the temple but got connected by asking the disciples.

How does this apply to you? Many go to church,serve, spend and get spent but remain close and not connected to Messiah their maker. You are there 100.9% times yet you are far from having a real connection like the man by the beautiful gate and the one by the pool you stay close. You remain a sign post, your life hardly shows the proof of your faith in God. Don't get me wrong our total dedication to serve God is very important.

You wonder why people who came after you get what you have waited for years just like that. Many fall into this category just because they chose to be an observer, you are in this world for a purpose not to start counting how much a celebrity has gained or how blessed a vessel of God is. That same God who created them created you and He has placed at your disposal greater things you just need to identify them.

You need to come out of your comfort zone to achieve what you thought you can't. Until the man at the beautiful gate asked the disciples, his healing did not come. If he had said to Paul well if you don't have money i'm not interested he probably would have died a beggar. If the man by the pool didn't agree with Jesus that he needed healing he would probably spend his entire life till he died by the pool infact when he dies they will probably put a statue in memorial of him.

Today ask yourself am i actually connected to my maker as He wants me to or am i just one of the people that hail blessings from afar yet in need and getting by without any change. God wants you to be connected to him, don't say well I'm a worker or a believer that is enough. There are better things that God expects from you because He has deposited great seed in you. Identify that which has crippled you and cry out to Him to free you so liberty can come and divine speed can take you to fulfill purpose.

Brethren don't just stay close by marking register stay connected by actually fufilling purpose why you are created. Heaven is waiting, lives attached to your destiny are waiting, don't waste the gift by just being there make sure you are relevant to the glory of God wherever you find yourself.