Friends and Roof Removal

This weekend, Pastor Tacho preached a sermon about the paralytic man whose friends brought him to Jesus to be healed.  Sounds simple enough, right?  In order to get their friend to Jesus, however, they had to lower him through the roof since the doors were blocked by people.  It wasn’t so simple!  It required some extra effort on the part of this man’s friends.  The paralytic man’s friends knew that Jesus could help him and they were willing to do whatever was necessary to get him to Jesus. 

As Pastor Tacho mentioned, his friends did not look at the obstacles and just give up when the obstacles seemed to be insurmountable.  Instead, they looked for a way.  They wanted to find a solution to getting their friend to Jesus.  They went the extra measure and took a risk.  Now they were the kind of friends we would all love to have, wouldn’t we?  How many of you would climb onto a roof, remove part of the roof and lower your friend in?  I’m guessing not many of us would be willing to go to those lengths. 

Maybe this week, you and I should look for ways to reach out and be Jesus’ hands and feet to help our neighbors, our friends and our co-workers.  And, in doing so, we can bring people to hear about and to experience the healing power of Jesus Christ for themselves.  Maybe invite them to the Calvary portrayals on Wednesday night or to Journey on Sunday nights.  Maybe even to some family activities at Calvary.  Become an inviter!

Yes, there are obstacles.  Yes, you may have to find creative ways to reach out.  Yes, people may say “NO” to your invitation.  Don’t give up, but keep on asking.  Keep on praying.  Keep on serving with open hands and hearts.  Keep on finding new ways to share Christ’s love for them.  

Be like the friends that the paralytic man had who never gave up.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to find ways to reach out and to lead people to Jesus.  That’s one prayer that will be answered, but you have to be willing to climb a few roofs and to remove a few obstacles, too. 

Here’s song by Steve Green called “I Will Go.”  It calls us all to live out the Great Commission.
   

Pax,

Pastor Carol