Organizing the Inside – Day 249 Willing To Be Inconvenienced

May 9, 2012 at 11:00 am · Filed under Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Love, Purpose, Relationship, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Faith, Friendship, Jesus, Paralysis, Taking Action

1When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”  Mark 2:1-5 (NLT)

True friends have a critical role.
Mark shares how this paralyzed man who was unable to get before Jesus on his own was helped by his friends. His friends went to great lengths to see to it that they brought him before the one who could help him. Not only did this man’s friends climb onto the roof, they also had to lift him to the roof as well. They additionally had to go through with digging the hole in just the right place so that when they lowered him down, he would be directly in front of Jesus. I can imagine that this was not necessarily so easy to do. They could have given up and just said we’ll try again some other time when it’s not as crowded. Did they need to exert extra strength or take certain care to make sure the hole was just in the right place? What a huge inconvenience this must have been for this man’s friends.

Yet, what great faith they had, and that faith moved them to action.
Although this was an inconvenience they acted on their faith, on behalf of their friend. As a result of these men acting on their faith, Jesus responded and the paralyzed man was made whole. How willing are you to be inconvenienced for a friend? Is there someone in your life who needs you to bring them right before the Lord? How far are you willing go, to act on your faith? Consider those whom God has made your friends. How does God want to use you in the friendship, and what purpose does this friendship bring?

No greater love.                         
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NLT) Jesus was referring to His own willingness to die for us, as He indeed considers us His friends. Jesus is also teaching the spiritual perspective whereby one is willing to give up something that is of particular interest or significant value for a friend. Being willing to give of your time, prayers or resources is a way of laying down your life. You are simply laying aside your own desires, wants, needs and motives to give to the life of another. Jesus shows us that there is no greater love. Are you a true friend to someone today? If so, have you considered what you are willing to sacrifice for your friend?

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