DEVO. 03.21.24
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20 NIV)
- This is the story of the guys who brought their friend to Jesus.
- The ones who bypassed the crowd by Going up on the roof and cut a hole in it.
- Then they lowered their friend right in front of Jesus.
- These are the ones who broke protocol
- The ones who risked embarrassment & rejection
- Out of Faith that Jesus really was the Son of God and that He could bring healing to their friend, they risked it all!
- And the first word out of Jesus’ mouth is not, “how dare you ruin the roof”
- He doesn’t say, “you broke all the rules”
- He doesn’t say, “This is not how you do it.”
- He doesn’t even acknowledge the hole in the roof!
- He doesn’t embarrass them, or yell at them. Instead, look at His first word.
- “Friend”
- He acknowledges this man and Honors their faith.
- Jesus speaks a word of acceptance.
- A true word of Love.
- “Friend”, with that word Jesus broke a ton of traditions and religious thought.
- That one word broke thousands of curses.
- With this one word Jesus broke the curse of rejection that this man had been living with ever since he had been paralyzed.
- Jesus goes on to forgive this mans sins and heal His body but before He did all that, He brought Healing just through the one word, “Friend”
- What is the word that you think that you are going to hear from Jesus when you come to Him with your brokenness and your problems?
- What do you think Jesus is going to say to you when you lay in front of Him with your need?
- Remember, this man was not able to do anything for Jesus.
- He wasn’t able to do any “works” at this time.
- He could only lay there.
- His faith had already spoken because of the place that He found Himself ... lying on the ground, in front of Jesus.
- And in that condition, Jesus’ first word is “Friend”
- So how about you?
- What do you think that you are going to hear from Jesus?
- I will tell you this, it’s not a word of condemnation.
- It’s not, “you should try harder and do better”
- No, Jesus looks right in your eyes and says, “Friend”
- Come to Him in Faith, today!
- Don’t expect to hear what the world would say.
- Be ready to receive a word from the One who is a “Friend of Sinners”
- Receive His Love, forgiveness and acceptance!
- Today, know that He is your Friend!
- This man left, and went home praising God!
- Be ready to receive that word and let it change the course of your life!
- Have a great Thursday!