Scripture - Luke 5:18-20 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Observation - Jesus is teaching in a house, the son of God - the one given that we might have life and life more abundantly. These four men should be commended on their valiant effort. They knew their friend needed to be touched and that Jesus was the one to do it. When they couldn't get through the door, they climbed up on the roof, tore a whole in the tiling and lowered the man on his bed into the presence of Jesus. Jesus honored their faith and commitment and healed their friend. Their determination and faith that simply getting their friend in His presence caught Jesus attention and caused a miracle to take place.
Application - What a story and principle in evangelism. I wonder if we have that kind of commitment and desire today for our friends, family and community. Do we look out at our neighbors and have this deep desire to get them into Jesus presence. Do we look at our family and start tearing the roof off to get them in the presence of Jesus. As we look at this story, I see the crowded room as the obstacle that would have prevented most of us from going on. That crowded doorway could have been what stopped these four men. They would have been justified perhaps to have looked at their friend and said "we can't get in, its over crowded." Probably anyone would have said "what a noble effort you made" But truly their never say die determination is what caused the miracle. They were desperate to get their friend in to God's presence. Four of them concocted an idea to climb up on the roof and lower him down. Now that took guts, effort, care and compassion for their friend. They wanted the healing for him that bad. The bible said, Jesus saw THEIR faith! We should be tearing some roofs off today to get people into God's presence...
Prayer - Father, give me roof tearing faith. Help me to be moved with compassion for my community that we tear off some roofs to get our neighbors into Your presence. Help us to have the kind of determination that we will go to any lengths to just get our friends in the door and into your presence.
