"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."" Luke 5:17
Beloved, just before this event, a host of doubters and accusers (Pharisees and teachers of the law), had come from all over Judea, including Jerusalem. They were sitting there watching, observing Jesus. But the crowd gathered none the less.
In verse 17, Luke writes, "And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick." A smile graced my face when I read that statement - though surrounded by what would have seemed like a lack of faith - Jesus sees the faith of the men that lowered the paralytic through the roof.
It concludes with Jesus saying, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." That is holy grace.
When you are in the presence of doubt, see the faith that is evident in yourself, in God, and in the those that do believe. Rise up to the event, heal that person next to you in line at the grocery store, walking past on the sidewalk with a limp, or in your own family. See the faith, sense the faith, ask for the faith, Faith!.
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