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Faithful Friend
Justin SmithMark 2:4-5
They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven".
If posed with the question, “How many friends do you have”, I would wager to say the majority would immediately refer to Facebook, spouting off a number in the thousands. It’s interesting how we live in a world of connectivity where we are literally a second away from contacting anyone in the world, yet we are more lonely and desperate then ever. Have we missed the point? Are these the types of relationships God has created us for?
This came to mind as I read this story in Mark 2. A paralyzed man could literally see his healing before him, awaiting him in the hands of Jesus, but even though the power to be healed was nearby, he would never encounter it without help. He contacted four friends in hopes of recruiting their assistance. Four men who, in the imagination of my mind, had busy schedules, kids to take care of, chores to do and a wife nagging him to wash the donkey, and these four men dropped everything to help a friend. They carry him to where Jesus is, but it's so crowded that their quest to bring him before Jesus seemed impossible. This is where most people would give up, but not these four friends. They carry this grown man…say 150 pounds…onto the roof, dig a hole, and somehow lower him down. They must have really believed…they must have really cared. As we know, the man was healed, and Jesus commended their faith.
Today, my application is my prayer. Lord, make me this kind of friend. Make me a friend that believes the best in people and desires the best for people. Make me a friend that is there when someone is in need. Make me a friend that goes above and beyond. Make me a friend that is committed to seeing others encounter Jesus’ fullness, whether in healing, in growth, in fulfillment, in blessing, or anything else you desire. May I have faith to believe in people and never give up on them. May I be one that loves selflessly. May I not find joy in being a “friend” merely in label or category on countless Facebook pages, but may I find delight in being a faithful friend.
