Friday
This story of the paralyzed man and his friends is a story of faith, of love, of perseverance. Their love for this man is deep and they seem to stop at nothing to get him healed. It is their friendship that won’t let anything or anyone stop them, even a roof. What a blessing it is to have friends like that in our lives. I know over the years there have been many people who have helped me to continue to draw closer to Jesus, that their love wouldn’t let me turn away or backslide. Sometimes it might just be a word spoken at the right time, or a suggestion. Sometimes it can be a good knock upside the head that will get us back on track. Whatever it is, or however it is accomplished, friends working beside us to help guide us is a true blessing.
And so while Jesus is healing this man, the “church” people of His day aren’t looking at the good that is being done, they only see this healing as one thing. Jesus is usurping their authority and because of that the charge Him with blasphemy because He dares tell them man his sins are forgiven. Of course Jesus, quickly points out that He has the authority to do these things because it would be easier to say, “your sins are forgiven,” but who has the power to heal a paralyzed man just by speaking it?
Which makes me contemplate the significance in healing versus salvation. Healing is great, we all pray for it, are given permission to ask for it, but physical healing is not what we should seek first. What we should look for is spiritual healing. We need salvation more than good health. Let’s face it, we all die. None of us will be exempt from natural death, but all of us can live eternally with Jesus if we have asked for salvation. It is with Jesus that we can experience life after death. So what does your faith look like?
Blessings on the day
Pastor Kathy