Oh how I know this much is true!!! And because He’s not returned yet, the cleaning continues! Don’t underestimate the power of the blood 🩸 of Jesus!
On our own, we cannot make ourselves clean.
We cannot undo the past. We cannot heal ourselves by our own strength.
But Jesus is the good news of the gospel!
And when He cleanses and heals, He doesn’t just remove the dirt or the problem, He calls us forward to join Him as builders of His body, the kingdom of God!
In John 5, after asking the invalid man,
“Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus gave him a command:
“Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.”
Jesus brings the healing. But we still have to respond. We cannot build others if we ourselves aren’t built up in Him and that requires for us to take responsibility and pick up whatever we have, wherever we are and walk!
And, that ’s what we’re talking about today in Part 3 of our series: Pick Up Your Mat.
We’ve already talked about:
• Part 1: Awareness Without Shame
• Part 2: From Venting to Listening
Now we move into action.
📺 Join us today for the livestream, or watch the replay on our YouTube channel.
Make sure you’re subscribed and have the notification bell on so you’re notified as soon as we go live.
Because this year we are choosing to be made well. We are picking up our mat. We are taking responsibility, responding to Jesus and become builders in the temple by starting with ourselves!
Let’s walk this out together… And let God bless your day 🤍
Reflecting on the powerful message of picking up your mat, I’ve found that healing is truly a journey involving both divine grace and personal response. The scripture from John 5 shows us that Jesus initiates healing by asking, "Do you want to be made well?" and then commands us to "Get up, pick up your mat and walk." This illustrates that while God provides the healing power, we must actively participate by accepting responsibility for our own restoration and growth. One personal experience that stands out is realizing that healing is not instant or passive. After going through difficult periods in life where I felt weighed down by past mistakes or emotional wounds, embracing this step of "picking up my mat" meant consciously choosing to move forward, even when it felt challenging. It’s about taking small but deliberate steps—whether it’s forgiveness, seeking support, or committing to healthier habits—and trusting that God’s cleansing is ongoing. The verse from Job, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one," reminds us of our limitations without Divine help. This reinforces the importance of relying on Jesus’ blood for true cleansing. Yet, it’s empowering to know that after this divine intervention, we are invited to become builders of His body—the kingdom of God—by contributing with the renewed strength and purpose we receive. Practically, "picking up your mat" can translate into everyday actions like moving beyond shame or regret, actively listening instead of venting, and choosing awareness. This series’ structure—from Awareness Without Shame to From Venting to Listening, and now taking action—encourages a holistic approach to spiritual and emotional healing. For anyone on this journey, I encourage embracing both grace and action. Healing invites us to respond, not merely receive passively. By joining live sessions or replays and engaging with communities that support growth, we can collectively strengthen our faith and inspire one another to "walk" in the newness of life that Jesus provides. Let this be a year of intentional healing and stepping into the calling God has for each of us, confident that while we cannot cleanse ourselves alone, with Jesus’ power and our proactive hearts, transformation is truly possible.
