Reflection: Jesus said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher and go home."

In the Gospel of Luke, the paralytic was healed as a result of the faith of his friends. When Jesus was teaching, many gathered together to listen and "the power of the Lord was with Him for healing". Luke 5:17

Some men came bringing to Him a paralytic on a stretcher. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the tiles in the roof above Him. After they had broken through, they let down the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "As for you, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:20

What an amazing faith the paralytic's friends had! What a gift to have friends like that and to be a friend like that! These friends had such love for their friend that they would go to the great length of opening up the roof to bring him to Jesus.

Do you know someone who needs healing or someone who is far away from Jesus, maybe a friend or a loved one? 

Consider what you could do to bring that person to Jesus. Sometimes, it is simply an invitation. The most important thing you can do is pray for that person. God will hear your prayers. He will answer them, sometimes right away, but most often, God waits. At just the right time, He will move. We are God's workers, but the growth is God's work.

"What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who causes the growth. The one who plants and one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Jesus performed a miracle for the paralytic because his friend's had faith and acted on it. All acts of faith and love begin with prayer in the heart.

Jesus said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher and go home." Luke 5:24  He rose, picked up his stretcher immediately, and went away glorifying God. All the people were astonished and they glorified God, saying, "We have seen incredible things today." Luke 5:26

The paralytic was physically healed but Jesus did even more. He healed him spiritually by forgiving his sins. Jesus has authority to do this and He does more than any of us can imagine!  Jesus wants to do this for you too and for those you pray for. Your faith makes a difference! When you pray, God's heart is moved. Never give up or become discouraged. The Lord is near. He will act when He desires. Be patient and wait; pray and persevere.

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12

Pray, pray, pray. Prayer shakes the Heart of God. Prayer is a spiritual work of mercy. Ask Jesus to stretch out His hand and heal you or your loved ones. Ask Him to increase your faith and pray with the confident trust of a child.

"This is My commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father. It was not you who chose Me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give you. This I command you: love one another." John 15:12-17

Rise, pick up your stretcher and run to Jesus!

Jesus is your friend and He is waiting to hear from you...
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