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by Dennis Wheeler
Absolutely, one of my favorite stories in the Bible (and a favorite for most children too!) is found in the New Testament in the book of Mark chapter 2. Here you read the touching story of a paralyzed man whose freinds desperately wanted Jesus to heal him. They carried him on a mat to the house where Jesus was teaching - - but the place was so packed with people that they couldn't even get near the door.
Undaunted, the friends found another way. Somehow they maneuvered the mat onto the roof, dug through the clay roof, and lowered the paralyzed man right down in front of Jesus as He was speaking. I'm sure that the crowd was probably a little ticked at this interruption, but not Jesus. Instead, He was impressed with their tenacity and creativity. And He was touched by their faith.
It was quite obvious to Jesus that these men wanted their friend physically healed. Yet, the first thing Jesus said was not "Sir, get up and walk!"; instead He said..."My son, your sins are forgiven!" (Mark 2:5 - NLT)
What?! The man had come to Jesus so he could walk. What did sin have to do with it?
Sin had - and has - everything to do with it. You see, Jesus knows that our greatest need is not a physical healing - - it's a spiritual healing.
I think there's a lesson for us in this story. When you go before God in your personal quiet time with Him...do you immediately jump into reading your list of wants and needs? Or - do you begin your time with Him in praise and fellowshipping with your Savior? Are there some sins you need to confess to Him?
You see - what we really need from Jesus is to spend time in His presence...worship Him...adore Him...honor Him...and allow Him to cleanse us & purify us & prepare us for His work. Then, we can also share with Him our physical, temporal concerns.
Jesus saw in that paralzyed man that his greatest need was to be forgiven and given a new hope...and He did just that? But guess what? He also healed him physically!!! And as soon as Jesus healed him - the man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers.
Our God is so awesome...He knows that for each one of us - our greatest need is for forgiveness...so He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, to die on the cross for our sins and offered His grace and forgiveness to us.
And yet, He cares so much about our personal needs that He taught us to pray..."Give us this day our daily bread."
He knows all of our needs...from the greatest to the smallest!!
As the words to song goes...
"How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved - yet You give to prove Your love for me.
To God be the glory for the great things He has done!"
FORGIVENESS!!!!!!!!!
He serves as the Senior Pastor with southwest Virginia church... a loving church family in Abingdon.
He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 27 years and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, one son-in-law, and two precious grandchildren, the second arrived arrived on the scene in September 2004!!
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