Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof. Mark 2:4
It isn’t always easy to get through a crowd. If you have ever tried to elbow your way to a sale table or leave a sporting event with the throng, you know how rude and pushy a crowd can be. The crowd in the account as related by Mark was in the way, making it impossible for the paralytic’s friends to get him in front of Jesus or even into the same room with Him. It took ingenuity and a lot of determination to climb to the roof, remove some of its tiles, and lower their friend in front of the Master.
What stands in your way and keeps you from bringing your friends to Jesus? Is it the crowds of those who surround us, who do not know Jesus and who make sharing Jesus with friends uncomfortable? Is it the temptation to put off sharing Jesus and His love to a better time or more suitable place?
This man’s friends were persistent. Sharing Jesus with others calls for persistence. May the Spirit help us clear the way for things that would keep our friends from coming to Jesus. May the Spirit help us be ready to speak to them the words that share the message of forgiveness, life, and salvation. May the Spirit help us determine that nothing will stop us from bringing our friends to Jesus and Jesus to our friends.
PRAYER: Jesus, make me a determined and persistent witness so I might bring my friends to You. Amen.
(Devotions from “The Abundant Life” copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 101, 103, 108 John 15
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