October 16, 2007
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to His own
town. Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their
faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take
heart son, your sins are forgiven.” At this some teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven ‘, or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son
of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then He said to the
paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go
home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were
filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men
(Matthew 8:28-34).
Is your faith strong enough to speak healing to a friend? To
say to them, “Your sins are forgiven?” To
say, “Get up, take your mat and go home”?
Love for a friend can cause a person of faith to exhibit such faith so that by
the authority given to them by God, and as they have been instructed by Jesus,
they speak and they cause God’s miracles of healing to manifest for their
friend and for God’s own glory.