Four friends lower a man through the roof to receive healing from Jesus. Their faith in what Jesus can do is birthing dramatic and extreme action. I admire that faith.
The paralyzed man couldn’t get to Jesus by himself. His friends needed to carry him to Jesus. Overwhelming grief, tragic news, crippling diagnoses can leave our friends paralyzed, as well. The shock, the numbness, the pain of their circumstance prevents them from uttering prayers but He intercedes (Romans 8:26.) Tears and groaning are languages He understands. We can carry our friends to the Lord as well, not on a mat but in our prayers. We read of Jesus healing and forgiving the paralyzed man because of ‘their faith,’ the faith of his friends.
We also read next of the religious leaders’ thoughts, not their words but their thoughts. Their thoughts are recorded in the Bible. What if our thoughts were recorded in the Bible? In a sense, they are because Jesus knows them. When your co-worker gets a promotion, what are you thinking? Jesus knows. When someone gets engaged, what are you thinking? Jesus knows. When an opposing candidate gets elected, what are you thinking, Jesus knows. He knows and He asks, ‘my child why are you thinking these things in your heart?’
Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’ He wants us to be thinking about who He is; He is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy. He wants us to be thinking about what He does, He does true, honorable, just, pure, lovely commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things for us all the time!
Let us take every thought captive for Him (2 Corinthians 10:5) today. He knows our thoughts.
Luke 5:22 ‘Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your heart?’
Father God, we come before You asking that You would purify our hearts and minds. We ask You to prompt us today and remind us that You know what we are thinking. Help us to take those thoughts captive and transform them into thoughts that please You, honor You and reflect our trust in You. We pray all of this in Your all-knowing Name, Jesus. Amen.