Written in RedSample

Then Jesus said to him,“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. - John 5:8-9, NIV

One of the most interesting things Jesus did in His encounter with the paralyzed man whom He healed was instruct him to carry his mat with him when he was finally able to walk. Yes, this man had been stuck on that mat for years, and now, just as he could finally leave it behind, Jesus told him not to forget it. At first glance, this is a small detail that likely gets overlooked in the encounter as a whole. But as we look deeper, we find that it’s so much more than that. Jesus didn’t say this without purpose. Rather, this man was to carry his mat as a reminder of where he’d been.

For so many of us, it’s easy to forget our struggles. After all, who wants to carry around a reminder of the hardest time of their life? It’s not about reminding ourselves of what we experienced; it’s more about reminding ourselves of what Jesus did for us in that experience. It’s a way for us to remember where we’ve been, where we are now, and how Jesus worked to get us there. Make a list today of some of the things you’ve walked through in life. Next to those things, be sure to write down what Jesus did to change things for you. Be sure to keep adding to the list as Jesus keeps showing up for you.