Skip to main content
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man who was paralyzed, 
"Be encouraged, 
my child, 
your sins are forgiven."
Matthew 9:2 CEB
I don't know if Jesus knew what was going on in this man who was paralyzed, but he didn't mention it. 
He did mention the faith of his people, his little community who carried him to Jesus. 
Jesus saw their faith.
And forgave his sins. 
Jesus saw their faith. 
And forgave his sins. 
Keep bringing the people you love and care about to places that they might find Jesus. 
Keep faith that Jesus can and does save, and it seems that at least on this occasion, the faith of others had something to do with it.
Don't give up. 
Even if they're paralyzed with something, stuck somewhere, pick them up and bring them with you. 
Your faith matters. 
Your faith in action matters. 
And Jesus words:
Be encouraged
Be unafraid
Take heart
(It's the same word Jesus uses in John 16:33, the last words to his disciples, there's trouble in this world, but take heart, be encouraged, be unafraid, I've overcome the world).
Jesus knew things were about to change for this person, and change is scary because it's unknown. What he had known was all about to change, and Jesus loves him 
My child 
Be encouraged
Be unafraid
Take heart
I'm here. 
It's going to be OK
#wordsofJesus
#redletterBible
#mychildbeencouragedbeunafraidtakeheart

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,  for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16 NLT OK so this is an English translation of a letter Paul wrote to a church 2,000 years ago, but does it feel like Paul is wrestling with words and ideas to try and capture all of who Jesus is, of who God is, of how does it work that the walking around Jesus was also there before the beginning of the beginning of everything we can see and touch and know. Not only that but Jesus was somehow the agent of everything that has been made in the physical, social, and spiritual.  Jesus is at the centre of it all.  Walking around Jesus. Cooking fish for breakfast Jesus. Heart aching as he ...
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.  "Listen," he said,  "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law.  They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked,  flogged with a whip,  and crucified.  But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." Matthew 20:17-20 NLT Jesus wanted his team, those closest to him, to know what was going to happen next.  It seems he wanted them to be prepared.  To be able to hold the hope of what's at the end as they go through the watching him be betrayed, sentenced, mocked, abused, and killed.  I wonder if Jesus needed to tell them, to let those he knew best what was ahead because he needed them with him. Jesus wanted community in the most difficult of times. It's no wonder that we do too.  We're in...
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. James 1:23-24 NASB For many people this is a time of year for a bit of introspection, thinking about the year that was, and what's ahead. James is encouraging us to live out God's Word. Whereever we find ourselves, whatever our circumstances. Its like looking at yourself. You don't forget who you are. The greek word here is "eimi" I am. We don't forget who we are. I am who I am in everything I do. And that's how James wants us to live out God's Word. It's not "hey just don't forget to live out what you've heard", the living out is inseparable from the hearing. #james #james1 #Godsgym #theWordjustliveit