Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Boldness before Christ

Luke 5:17-26
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

I want friends like those of the paralyzed man. They had faith that Jesus could and would heal him, and they did not stop until they had taken him (the paralyzed man) to Jesus. That's bold faith. More than that, I want faith like that for my friends. Whatever they are going through, I want to take it to the Lord knowing that He will hear my prayers for them and He will answer.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

i have often thought about the faith of the friends in that story too. i hear your heart, and am praying right now that you will both have and be those friends.

Jeanine said...

Thank you...my prayer is also that I would realize when I have found that. I have dear friends...friends like I've never had before...and I love them.