... and we continue speaking about the paralyzed man and his four friends. Luke 5:18-19 (NLT2) “Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” Today for a moment please imagine with me that you are the man on the mat.
1. The trust issue with your friends. You wonder if you can trust your friends to keep you safe. What are these guys getting me into? Are they going to drop me? Ground level wouldn’t be so bad but from the roof…it could be bad! Whenever you venture out to share Christ with someone, are you a person who can be trusted to not drop them? Can you deliver on what you are promising them? Be careful what you promise people. Matthew 11:19 (NIV) “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' People want to know they are loved and that we truly do care for them. Love keeps showing up, love keeps listening, love keeps making sure that people are not hurt…love keeps directing people to Jesus!
2. Trust issues with the crowd. The crowd could have looked at this as a form of butting ahead and no one likes for anyone to jump in line in front of them. He was in no place to defend himself if people got physical. The crowd (congregation) should rejoice with those who get to Jesus and find salvation or healing. Romans 12:15-16 (NLT2) “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
3. Trust issues with Jesus. This man’s friends must have wondered how Jesus would respond (we still wonder). Jesus looks up and sees the faces of the friends looking down at Him. The verse says He saw their faith. We have no indication that these men said anything to Jesus but he saw their faith. He saw men working hard to get their friend to Him and their only thought was…We must get our friend close to Jesus. James 2:17 (NKJV) “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” What does Jesus see when He sees you?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.