BRINGING THE DISTRESSED BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD

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Today’s Reading:

Mark 2:1-12 (3)

"Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men." (v. 3 NKJV)

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The passage before us reveals Jesus great authority, confirms his deity, and exposes the hostility of the religious leaders towards him. Jesus was able to bring to light, the debating thoughts in the minds of the scribes; he forgave the sins of the paralytic; and physically healed a paralysed man. He alone is able to do the work the Father does.

Again, an obvious fact is seen in this story that, obstacle should not be a barrier to an active faith. The men that brought the paralytic to Jesus surmounted the obstacle before them because of their conviction that once they got him to Jesus, He will heal their friend.

Before a preventive vaccine was developed in the mid-1950s, a lot of people, especially children were paralyzed by polio and many died from it each year. In ancient Israel, paralysis was viewed as a permanent, hopeless condition. This moved a group of four friends to device a way to bring their paralyzed friend before Jesus. Believing that once he gets to Jesus his condition would be cured (vv. 1-4). When Jesus saw the active faith in the men who brought the paralytic to him, He was moved to forgive the sins of the paralyzed man and heal him (v. 11). This goes to show that by active faith, our sins can be forgiven and any hopeless situation in our lives can be touched.

If there is anyone around us who is facing a difficult physical or spiritual situation; it is a privilege and a responsibility on us to either intercede for such a person in our prayers or physically move with compassionate action. Jesus is the only One who can meet the deepest needs of all in distress or facing terrible challenges.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE

Prayer:

1. Father, thank you for Jesus is able to speak the words of eternal life, heal our diseases, and to meet our deepest and great needs. Lord Jesus, today pass through my life, family and environment heal, deliver, and make your presence felt, in Jesus name.

2. As I come before you today Lord, meet the yearnings of my heart and make me a channel of blessings to others, in Jesus name.

3. I plug my life into the socket of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.

4. Lord Jesus You will build Your Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail, in Jesus name.

5. Father, bulldoze and destroy strongholds of wickedness in our nations, let there be love, peace, harmony of purpose and progress, in Jesus name. Amen.