by John Palmieri
5. October 2008 16:34
The story in Luke 5:17-26 of the four friends lowering their paralytic friend through a roof to Jesus has always inspired and intrigued me. It’s within this story that we see the faith of others believing for someone who couldn’t believe for himself. Faith building people are like that. They believe for those who can’t believe for themselves. There will be times in your life when God is going to put you directly in the path of people so paralyzed by doubt, depression, fear, addiction, financial problems, disease that they can’t believe for themselves. You need to believe for them! It’s a revolutionary thought…that your faith can radically change the destiny of another person. Your faith can’t make another person a Christian but it can completely have an effect on the people around you. Look at the four friends that carried their paralytic friend to the roof of a house, dug through it and then lowered him directly in front of Jesus. It’s important to note that Jesus doesn’t comment on the faith of the Paralytic but on the faith of the friends. The text, verse 20, says that Jesus saw their faith, “and seeing their faith”. This is a powerful insight…because Jesus took into account the faith of the group of friends. There is power in the united faith of God’s people--power to bring change in the lives of family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
This is the kind of faith you will find at New Life Mont Clare. I encourage you to come, invite a friend and see that your faith can make the difference!
