Following Jesus

     The house was full. The crowds were huge. The Word had spread about Jesus. His teaching was different from anything they had ever heard. Demons fled. Sight was restored. Some were healed just by touching His gown. And there they came; the four faithful friends of the paralytic. They carried their friend through the streets on a mat, determined to find Him. The One.

     It seemed an impossible task when they came upon the crowd. There was no way to get into the house. Or was there?

     Read along with me.

Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lyng on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son your sins are forgiven.”  Mark 2:4-5

     What would you do to lead your friends to Jesus? They wanted their friend to walk. Here’s the interesting part. Jesus sees their faith. Does He heal the paralyzed man. Eventually He does. But what comes first? “Son your sins are forgiven.”

     God uses our suffering to bring us to Him. His priority is to save us for eternity, to forgive us through Jesus. That comes first. He wants our hearts. He wants us to hear the message and take it in and then we become the messengers, bringing our friends to see Him.

Dear Jesus,

Use our faith. Let us in among the crowds with our friends. Give us the message You want us to share and help us to bring our hurting friends to You. Many are paralyzed with hurt and fear and doubt and grief. We can carry their burdens and leave them with You for forgiveness and healing.

Amen