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Theo Tigno•
1/12/2007 10:24 am
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Friday, January 12th 2007 |
Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" -- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for those who suffer from depression.
Are you a good friend? I'm sure you know where I'm going with this...
So, I'll refrain from asking the obvious, "Are you bringing others to Christ?" I'll also spare you the not-as-obvious, "Are you bringing Christ to others?"
Instead I'll ask a different question: who has brought you to Christ? What "brokenness" did others see in you that helped open your heart to Christ more profoundly?
There is a saying that goes I'll botch so I'll give the gist of it: the friends a person has tells a lot about the person. Who do you surround yourself with? Who in your life can be the friend that brings you closer to Christ? Who are you afraid to get to know deeper because it would mean that they would challenge you more (for the better)?
It's hard to think of ourselves as paralytics, but we all have some means of brokenness that will lead us to Christ, and it often takes surrounding ourselves with people who have been there before. Take care and God Bless.
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