The Tribune

By Nicholas Morley

John 5:2-8 (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.”

The pool of Bethesda would have been an ideal location for pharmaceutical and ‘as-seen-on-TV’ businesses that produce quick fix solutions for health-related issues. All five of her porches would have had booths that sold ‘get well’ supplements that failed to yield any long-term benefits. All those who had issues with their health would have come to the pool only to be disappointed by her depressingly long queues, or by her products that are constantly sold out. There would have been people who had been going to the “Bethesda Health Plaza” for many years, yet had not received any satisfactory results.

Everywhere we turn today, there are places and people advertising quick fix products for weight loss and other various health issues which do not bring the results we so desperately need. Scores of people race to buy such products only to see their conditions worsen and the purses of the merchants growing fatter.

Thank goodness there is a formula that heaven approves and that is more affordable and 100 percent more effective than what we have grown used to.

While health-enhancing products or supplements have their place, nothing should be above how God wants us to take care of our bodies.

Although it was new to the lame man, Christ’s formula of healing was something he was willing to try. “Arise, take up your bed and walk.” These words spoken by Christ were said with the lame man’s healing in mind, and as we would soon see, our healing as well. Although the lame man experienced an immediate healing by the way of a miracle, Christ’s words pointed us all to an eight principle health formula, which if applied daily, would improve our physical health.

Three out of the eight principles are found in the word “arise”. In order for us to arise, our bodies need an adequate amount of rest on a daily basis. Rest is essential so that our bodies function effectively during the day.

The second principal we find in the word is trust in God. Among our first duties when we rise should be to seek God through and study of his word.

The third principle, and one often take for granted, is nutrition. After a much-needed eight-hour rest, prayer and study, prepare for yourself a well-balanced breakfast in the morning. Our breakfast should always contain a good amount of complex carbohydrates, fruits and proteins. Our beverages should always be sweetened with natural sweeteners. That, in combination with the other essential nutrients we get from our breakfast, should help us start off our day strong.

“Take up your bed” something many don’t like to do, but apart from this, our forth principal is temperance. The Apostle Paul admonishes us that we ought to be temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25). And in order to remain temperate in all things we must be content with all we do.

In the word “walk” we find our fifth principle. Walking promotes exercise, another essential element our bodies need to maintain optimal health. Walking at least 30 minutes a day has great health benefits. The other principle that walking promotes is taking the fresh air, our sixth principle. The seventh is sunlight and eighth is water consumption.

All of these principles work together for the body to remain healthy. It was out of faith and obedience to Christ’s words that the lame man was totally healed. The same applies to us. Our faith and obedience will bring immediate transformation in our health. Rest, trust in God, eat well, be temperate in all things, exercise, take the fresh air, soak up the sunlight and drink water. I say to you today, “Arise, take up your bed and walk.”

For questions and comments, e-mail routenutrition46@gmail.com.