A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Future Now)
Scripture for the Day (April 14, 2017)
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)
There are multiple accounts in the New Testament where friends and family brought their loved ones and friends to Jesus for healing. Do we still do that today or has that gone out of fashion? Have we become so socially conscious that doing such things would start an uproar in our church. Let’s look at one particular account in the Gospel of Luke:
“Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The 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?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. (Luke 5:18-25)
I want you to notice in this scripture where Jesus saw their faith. Well, what did Jesus see? He saw some men tear off part of the roof to be able to lower their paralyzed friend down in front of Jesus. That’s what Jesus saw, people acting on their faith. Could you imagine that happening at a church today? Some guys show up with their sick friend on a stretcher. There is a healing service going on and the church is so filled with people they can’t get their sick friend in the door for prayer. So they find a ladder outside the church and carry their sick friend to the roof. They begin tearing off just enough of the roof to get their friend in the healing service. In these modern times we would call those guys crazy and probably call the police.
But just remember, it was their faith that Jesus saw. Jesus said many times in the Word of God that your faith has made you whole or be it done to you according to your faith. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of friends I want hanging around me. Someone who will get me to Jesus no matter what it takes, people who put action to their faith. If people want to go home healed and praising God, sometimes they need some crazy faith friends. It may not take tearing up someone’s roof, but then again, it may take something crazier. The question is, how far are we willing to go for a friend to get them into the presence of Jesus?
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
