Monday, December 17, 2007

Good Morning! I hope that you all had wonderful weekends! I apologize for getting the devotional posted so late this morning. My goal this week is to start posting much earlier each day.

Some of you may be wondering what happened to the photo of the flower at the top of the page. Good question! I can't seem to get answers from Google/Blogspot as to why my images are disappearing and how to get them back. If any of you girls are gifted in this area and could offer me some helpful advice, I would love it!

Today's devotional deals with friendships. When I think of Christmas and of the fact that God's plan for salvation included His Son coming to earth as a baby and living among us, it makes me realize all over again how much God values relationships. He values His relationships with us and our relationships with each other (read Romans 15:1-2 today). Our friendships are such a gift! Perhaps this Christmas season God is calling you to give a different, more meaningful kind of gift to a friend in your life. Something that can't be wrapped in paper and bags; something much more valuable.

-Becky


The Faith of a Friend

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them… When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven… I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (Mark 2:3, 5, 11, NIV)

So here they are, a group of guys with this incredible bond of brotherhood. One of them is paralyzed and has had to live with the reality of being confined to a mat or a bed. His life has become limited, perhaps even hopeless from his point of view. He’s very likely battling with depression, or at the very least, discouragement. We’ll call him Dane just for the sake of clarity in today’s devotional. One day one of Dane’s friends hears Jesus is in town, just a few blocks away, speaking at someone’s house. He tells the others. They are elated! They see this as a golden opportunity for healing for Dane. But he doesn’t see it. Maybe it’s fear, maybe it’s doubt, maybe it’s low self-worth, but whatever the reason, he does not share the faith and excitement of his friends. They don’t let his skepticism deter them from their mission, however. They load him up on the stretcher anyway, four of the stronger men grab the four corners, and the rest lead the way as they all set out for the house where Jesus is.

We all know what happens. The crowd is so big that they can’t get anywhere near the door. Bound and determined, they go up to the roof, tear it open, and lower their friend down right in front of Jesus. Jesus first forgives Dane’s sins and then heals his paralysis. The man who was once paralyzed jumps up and I imagine he did a little dance! His spirits are so high that not even the combined excitement of his friends can compare to what he is feeling.

But did you notice the four important words in this story that are consistent in each of the three Gospels in which this miracle is relayed? “And seeing their faith…” Jesus saw the faith of the friends and He honored it. He knew that the faith of Dane was hampered because of his circumstances. But Dane had a group of friends interceding on his behalf and Jesus immediately recognized that.

This is one of those incredible moments when we get a glimpse into the heart of the Creator who made us from the very beginning to be relational beings, living interconnected with one another. This is when the words of the New Testament ring true about the family of believers being part of one body. When one of your friends is going through a battle of life that brings them so low they cannot even muster up that small seed of faith, God may very well be calling you to come alongside of them and lift them up through the strength of your own faith.

Will you heed the call? Will you step in and be faith for your friend?

Dear Jesus, Thank You for loving us so much that You will answer prayer for us based on someone else’s faith when our own trials bring a storm of doubts. Help us to lift each other up when one of us is weak.

Is there someone in your life who you can minister to today? Read Romans 15:-12 and then take that step to bring their needs before God in prayer.