Weak or Strong
Some days I feel on top of the world; other days I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.
Early in Jesus’ ministry he returned to Peter’s house in Capernaum. When news spread of Jesus’ arrival, people came from all around clamoring to hear Jesus and to be healed. A paralyzed man had come to see Jesus and was carried on a mat by four friends. They tried but couldn’t even get in the doorway. Instead the four friends removed the roof and lowered their paralyzed friend on the mat so he would be seen by Jesus.
Mark (2:1-12) shares with us that when Jesus, “saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” and “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” The paralytic immediately arose and walked. Everyone in the house was amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Interesting. Jesus healed the man not because of the paralytic’s faith, but because of his friends’ faith.
I’ve been through a season of my life where I was broken physically, emotionally and spiritually. Like the paralytic, I had to reach out to friends to help me when I stumbled, to “carry me on a mat and lower me through the roof”. Now I am stronger and I need to be the one to reach out to others, bringing them close to the healing power of Jesus. Sometimes I may even need to go to unusual lengths, like removing a rooftop, in order to help them.
Today, are you the person on the mat who needs to be healed, or are you the friend with the strong arms that lowers the mat and reaches out to help others?
“I pray that when you are broken, you will reach out to friends for comfort and support, and when you are strong, you will reach out to help others so that the power of your faith will show others the healing power of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Agatha