Friends With Faith

Reference texts: Luke 5:17-26, 6:38

In Luke, a story is told about a group of men who went above and beyond the call of duty for their paralyzed friend.  I can imagine the logistics they went through:

• One or more men thought of a good deed to do for their paralyzed friend.
• The friendly delegation went together to the paralyzed friend’s home.
• The men literally picked up their paralyzed friend on his bed and made their way to where Jesus was.
• The friends surveyed the crowd and agreed upon an extraordinary plan to get him to Jesus.
• The friends not only dug a bed-sized hole in the roof, but hoisted the paralyzed man up then lowered him in the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus.

The story continues with Jesus seeing the men’s faith and forgiving their friend.  Because of the skeptics in the room, Jesus went above and beyond, and commanded the healing upon the paralyzed man.  Afterwards, the once-paralyzed man was able to stand up, pick up the bed that he was lying on, and walk home with praise in his footsteps!

I’m blessed to have friends and family with load-carrying, roof-ripping faith!  Likewise, I’ve carried some loads and ripped off some roofs for them!  Some days, I have an abundance of faith from which to share.  Other days, I’m at a deficit and need friends with faith to make it through.

I don’t know what else happened to the paralyzed man or his faith-filled friends.  I can imagine that their good deed was rewarded in a grand way based on what Jesus said then (and still speaks today): “Give, and it shall be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

I’m encouraged today to be a friend with faith.

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine upon you.  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.   - Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV