Luke 5:17-26
One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"- he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for Sharon Sismondo, who suffered a brain aneurism this weekend. Her surgery is happening now.
I normally try to get these readings sent out the night before, but last night the website that hosts the mailing list was down, or at least I wasn't able to get to it.
It turned out to be a blessing as when I got in this morning, a co-worker of mine, Bobby, told me about his mom, Sharon.
We know and have faith that God forgives our sins, but what are we doing for those souls who do not know God's forgiveness? Are we bringing them to Christ through our prayers and our invitations?
If there is someone you want to pray for in regards to their conversion, please let me know and they will be part of a list that will be prayed for this week in Dawg's thought. Take care and God Bless.
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