The man in our key text was in the same unpleasant situation for thirty-eight long years. He believed that one day someone would be kind enough to help get him into the healing waters at the right time. However, when Jesus came by and asked if he would like to be healed, he failed to see that the Doctor of doctors had come to his help. His trust was not in God but in man.

There was a time David found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation. Being a man after God's heart he quickly realised that the only way out was to encourage himself in the Lord his God. The Devil had employed his deadly weapon of discouragement to bring David down, but the Lord delivered him. Many have been destroyed and are still being destroyed by discouragement for lack of knowledge - Hosea 4:6.

Blessed or happy are those who endure the affliction or persecution that befall them because of their faith in Christ. Job lost all his children and all his possessions in one day but he neither sinned nor charged God foolishly. On a later date Job was also smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown. Despite the ungodly counsel given by his wife, to curse God and die, Job chose to retain his integrity and would not sin with his lips against the Lord.

Beware, Jesus says, "strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. The journey to find the strait gate that leads into the kingdom of God begins at salvation. Although, the hope of every saved soul is to make heaven, unfortunately, many will be disappointed because they are travelling on the fast lane of life, otherwise called the broad way.

When God saved Israel from Egyptian bondage and captivity, He hedged them in, providing a cover of protection. But every time they rejected God and worshipped strange gods, the hedge was broken, and their enemies pursued and overpowered them. However, each time they repented and returned unto the Lord, He delivered them. That was a dangerous pattern which the believers should not imitate. You should never take the grace of God for granted.