Faithful Friends
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. Luke 5:19-20
Your friends matter. Who you allow to be close to you in this life, who you allow to influence you can determine your walk with God.
Just look at the man with palsy in Luke 5. We do not know how long he had this infirmity, but we do know that he was bedridden with it. Maybe he had lost all hope of walking, being productive, and providing for himself. He could have been in the deepest despair and hopeless. But his friends were not. They knew of Jesus, maybe they had witnessed a miracle or listened to His teachings. Whatever the case, they were faithful. Even in the face of adversity, they persevered because they knew that Jesus had the power to help their friend.
Seeing the entrance to the house blocked, they found a different way. Can you imagine the physical strength it took to lift their friend to the top of the house and cut a hole in the roof? I'm tired just thinking about it! But they did it because of their love for their friend.
Jesus had compassion on him. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus saw their faith. While the scribes and Pharisees focused on the words Jesus used, the friends focused on Jesus. In the face of continued adversity from their grumblings, the friends looked to Jesus for the healing they knew He could give. Maybe the infirmed man began to see a glimmer of hope at this moment because the first thing he did when he was healed was praise God. He left that place a changed man all because of his friend's faith.
Do your friends lift you up to Jesus? Do they pray for you to be the Christian that God has called you to be? Do they face obstacles and continue fighting for you when the way becomes hard and difficult? Are you this type of friend?
Well, we can be. Jesus healed this man because of the faith of his friends. Just think of what God can do for your friends if you have that same faith.
C
Your friends matter. Who you allow to be close to you in this life, who you allow to influence you can determine your walk with God.
Just look at the man with palsy in Luke 5. We do not know how long he had this infirmity, but we do know that he was bedridden with it. Maybe he had lost all hope of walking, being productive, and providing for himself. He could have been in the deepest despair and hopeless. But his friends were not. They knew of Jesus, maybe they had witnessed a miracle or listened to His teachings. Whatever the case, they were faithful. Even in the face of adversity, they persevered because they knew that Jesus had the power to help their friend.
Seeing the entrance to the house blocked, they found a different way. Can you imagine the physical strength it took to lift their friend to the top of the house and cut a hole in the roof? I'm tired just thinking about it! But they did it because of their love for their friend.
Jesus had compassion on him. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus saw their faith. While the scribes and Pharisees focused on the words Jesus used, the friends focused on Jesus. In the face of continued adversity from their grumblings, the friends looked to Jesus for the healing they knew He could give. Maybe the infirmed man began to see a glimmer of hope at this moment because the first thing he did when he was healed was praise God. He left that place a changed man all because of his friend's faith.
Do your friends lift you up to Jesus? Do they pray for you to be the Christian that God has called you to be? Do they face obstacles and continue fighting for you when the way becomes hard and difficult? Are you this type of friend?
Well, we can be. Jesus healed this man because of the faith of his friends. Just think of what God can do for your friends if you have that same faith.
C
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