“And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
Luke 5:18-20 KJV In today’s Scripture, which is a wonderful example of the love friends have for one another and their faith-filled determination, that would see their friend healed! That’s what I would call some awesome friends who would do anything to get their sick friend to Jesus! This same event is also recorded in other places in Scripture: “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:1-2 KJV “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Mark 2:5 KJV In every one of these instances recorded in Scripture Jesus saw the faith of these men. It says He saw their faith! There is a demonstration of faith, when real faith is being acted upon. You can see it in action! James says that faith without works, a corresponding action, is dead. I like the way the Message Bible brings this Scripture from James out: “I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.” James 2:18 MSG In other words, if there is no tangible evidence of your faith there is no faith. We can talk all day about how much we believe and trust God. Even quote all the right Scriptures but are we acting out our faith? Putting feet to our faith we might say. Real faith, faith that has been released, can be seen. Now our faith is not in what we see but in what is not seen. The world says, seeing is believing. But true Bible faith doesn’t work that way! Thomas, one of Jesus’s disciples, was told by the other disciples, they had seen the Lord, alive after His resurrection. But Thomas would not believe unless he saw some physical evidence. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25 KJV Thomas would believe and go on to be a powerful Apostle and Missionary, taking the Gospel to India. It was there that he was martyred for his faith in 72 AD. Faith says I believe, not because I have seen it, but because I believe. For that sick man and his wonderful friends that him to Jesus, Jesus saw their faith. Is there something in your life of faith that Jesus can see? He is looking for it! LET’S PUT FEET TO OUR FAITH!
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