Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Mark 2:1-12 (NRSV)

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

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Reflect

Did you notice that at first it was not the man with a disability who believed? It was his friends. Jesus saw the friends’ faith and honored it. Their faith and Jesus’ actions inspired the man’s faith.

The scribes’ deep skepticism (questioning) kept them from seeing the miracle being performed right in front of their eyes. They stood united in their unbelief, while the friends stood together in their faith.

We all need friends or family who believe for us because they provide a way for us to believe in Christ’s salvation, even when we aren’t sure what we believe. I am not saying that anyone else’s faith can save us, but it can bring us to a place where our faith can thrive. It can provide rich soil in which our own faith can grow.

We need to ask ourselves if we are the kind of friend who brings people to the roof top. Do we provide a safe place for those who are on the verge of believing? Can they draw hope from our faith? Let’s choose to live out our faith in such a way that God is glorified and those in our circle can say with amazement, “We have never seen anything like this!”

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Pray

Lord of miracles, we witness the power of your love daily. Open our eyes to see you clearly. Help us to proclaim your presence. Give us the courage to stand with our friends as witnesses to the blessings you provide. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Go with God.