BRING THEM TO JESUS..... One of the hardest things in the world is to watch someone you love go through a hard time emotionally, physically, practically.. It may be a son or daughter, a sister or brother, a friend or parent. Whoever it is as Christians, as humans, it is so hard to see someone you love in pain of any kind. We want to make it better, to ease their burdens but its not always clear how we can do so or sometimes, its very clear that we just cant, it is beyond our power to change the circumstances they are dealing with. I am reminded this morning of the friends in Luke 5:18 and Mark 2:4 - And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, Friend, your sins are forgiven you.… I pause at this short but important story in the bible and imagine the mindset of these friends who have either such unimaginable faith in Jesus ability to heal their friend or are just so desperate to do something, anything for their friend. I wonder how long he had been paralysed, who was he before that happened. He must have been important to them for them to have been ready to go to such extents to bring him to the rabbi who was a healer! This was a mission of love! In lowering a paralysed man into a crowded house, they took an unbelievable risk, how would he have gotten out if Jesus had not healed him, how would they have retrieved him, what would have happened if he had fallen off the bed as they lowered him or if the crowd had panicked and trampled him? What did the paralysed man feel about this plan particularly as his friends lowered him into a crowded space they could barely see, was he confident, frightened, hopeful, resentful? The Word interestingly says Jesus saw the faith of his friends not him, yet on that basis heals and forgives him. I am learning that whatever our dear ones our going through, as believers we too have to bring them to Him, to ignore all the worldly wisdom we have and even the feelings of the individual about prayers or God at that time and to spiritually surrender them completely to the Lord, knowing that He loves them, that He alone is the place of salvation, their healer, their provider, their salvation. Knowing that whatever mistakes they may have made that may or may not have contributed their situation, He is able to forgive them and restore them through your faith in Him. We may not know how the salvation will come, it may not come in an instant but we have to trust Him even when they cant. Our faith, our prayers, our hope, our trust and belief in Him can make a real difference to their situation.....Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 We have resurrected power at work within us and in His name can take authority over their circumstances and declare his grace, healing and power over their lives if we have enough faith. Jesus says if we have faith like a mustard seed..... Do things always work out, is sickness always healed...no, sometimes the answer does not seem to come in the way we want or hope but still as believers we must abide by the words that say ...pray without ceasing and believe that ultimately he makes all things work together for good. Not even death can defeat Him. So pray for your loved ones today. Mentally lower them to His feet and tell Him He is the only hope you have for them. Believe in His ability to love, heal and restore or indeed to take them in His arms lovingly and in peace. It is the greatest gift you can give them despite their fears, worries or state of mind...Bring them to Jesus in love, prayer and in faith. Today I bless you with the prayer from the book of 1 Thessalonians 5 -Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Amen.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 07:40:31 +0000
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