What We See and What Jesus Sees in Our Friends

Some people think you need to have a certain amount of faith for God to do anything for you.  Especially when it comes to healing.  Harm has been done to many on this teaching alone!  Yet it was a not man's faith that move the Lord to heal in Luke 5, but the faith of his friends...

Luke 5:20 (ESV) And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

When Jesus saw the faith they had in Jesus being the answer for their friend, their friend was forgiven and healed.  Of course this passage shows the power of Jesus to heal AND forgive.  But it also highlights the importance of forgiveness over healing.  

First, to Jesus, the more important matter for this lame man was forgiveness.  We don't think this way.  We think he's crippled and he needs to walk.  Walking, we think would make his life immeasurably better.  But Jesus full of power to heal, doesn't delve right into the physical problem before Him.  He first deals with the spiritual problem only He could see.  This man was spiritual lame as well.  If there's one thing that we need from God it is first and foremost forgiveness.  We need our sins atoned for and "put away" - which is what the word means in Greek. 

Second, our biggest problem is usually not what we think.  Our problem is what God says our problem is.  Perhaps we've been forgiven, but there might be other spiritual problems that we need God to take out of our lives before we get that thing we've been hoping and praying for all these years.  

Third, the friends of this story did something more amazing than just opening a hole in the roof for their friend.  They refused to try to fix what only Jesus could fix.  

So the question is: Who are you bringing before the Lord in prayer?  Who are you lifting up and working hard for to see Jesus come through on their behalf.  Hand them over to Jesus.  And just remember, that what He deals with first might not be your priority.  

But He's the one with authority and He's the one we need.  So lift them up and hand them over to Jesus.

PRAYER:

Father, for the people I try to fix in my life... I ask that you take them and do for them what you see fit.  I have a good idea of people's problems, but ultimately I'm limited and you are all knowing.  Heal me, forgive me, and help me to see healing and forgiveness in the lives of others.