The Faith of a Friend

A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to Him, carried by four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins." Mark 2: 2-5

Jesus continues to bring this story to my mind, and the words, "Rise up, and walk." The man on the stretcher was healed and Jesus told him to rise up and walk.  Another pivotal moment in this story is when his friends decided to actually pick up his stretcher and carry him to Jesus, but that's not all! I find it even more compelling when they got to the house, saw that it was far too crowded for them to enter, yet because of their faith they carried their friend to the roof, cut a hole in the roof, and lifted him down through the hole to Jesus!  Because of the faith of the paraplegics friends, he was taken on a stretcher, to the roof, through a hole, down to Jesus, and told that his sins were forgiven, then told to    rise up and walk! 

The significance of a friend's faith in my walk is beyond measure! 

When two or three are gathered together, there is strength.  I know that when I am feeling weak, I can go to my friend for love and encouragement.  Her faith can lift me up and hold me in times of weakness. She can speak words of blessing and life over me and remind me that God has given me the power to RISE UP and WALK.  She can carry me to Jesus when I do not have strength and she can bring me before him in prayer.  I can do the same for my friends when there is need.  My faith can be a sturdy shelter that holds them before Jesus for healing.

So, again I am praising Jesus for His Words to me, RISE UP and WALK, for I am understanding that there are many connections to these words.

Jesus, Say That Again to me, I will continue to listen to you.