Lowering - OR - Being Lowered


Luke 5: 18-20 Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, He said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.”

I was struck by this passage in two different ways. Both based in faith. What if the man on the mat didn’t really have a lot of faith in Jesus, but it was his friends that did? What if he was complaining or even fighting them for doing this? What if he was actually afraid to ‘be healed’? How his life would change due to it and all. BUT the faith of the friends and their faith in Jesus! They not only carried him who knows how far, but then went up on a roof?! Took out some tile?! Then lowered him down?! Best of all, RIGHT IN FRONT OF JESUS!! These were friends on a mission! Even if he didn’t get up and walk after being with Jesus, his “sins” were forgive, which then gave him eternal life. Now “that” is a true healing!

Ok flip side: the man on the mat is the one with the faith. How much begging did he have to do to his friends to get them to carry him? To climb a roof? To remove tiles and lower him down? What was he saying the whole time that would have encouraged his friends to be so persistent? THEN, to have the tiles removed in just the right place?! You KNOW God had a hand in this moment! Yes, for this man and his friends. Yes for all of those sitting there. But more now, for US! Yes! For us to see that even if we don’t always have the faith in something going on, we can encourage our friends to. Even if we don’t understand the faith of someone else, we can learn from them. Even if we don’t know how it will all work out – Jesus works it all out just perfectly for EVERYONE’S benefit!

Today, where are you? Are you the one lacking some faith? Are you the one with extra faith to share? Are you the one walking along and just need to see something that increases your faith? Are you the “friend” carrying and lowering your friends by praying for them? Or are you the friend ‘needing’ others to pray for you? Either way – it is by the grace of God, that the mercies of Jesus WILL be upon you (and me) today! Enjoy the journey God has for you – even if you don’t understand it right now – allow God to lead you and provide for you. Pray not only for others, but for yourself as well. He delights in that! Be well, safe and blessed today my friend!!



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