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Hope for the Day

The way of love

Diane Houghtaling
Posted 2/3/23

I recently read a devotion about a familiar Bible story, but the author brought out a point I had never considered before. The story is found in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus was in a house preaching to a …

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Hope for the Day

The way of love

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I recently read a devotion about a familiar Bible story, but the author brought out a point I had never considered before. The story is found in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus was in a house preaching to a crowd, when some men came along carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They hoped to get him to Jesus to be healed.

They could not get the man through the crowd, so they carried him to the roof, made an opening, and lowered him into the room in front of Jesus. Because of their great faith, Jesus forgave the man his sins and healed him. 

The author saw two types of people in this story. There were those who stood in the way and prevented the paralyzed man from getting to Jesus, and those who would do anything to get their friend to Him. This thought stayed with me for days, as I pondered who are those that keep others from Jesus.

I thought about the crowd of people. There were those who had heard Jesus speak before and been witness to the miracles He’d performed. There were those who were hoping for their own miracle that day. Then there were the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who except for the few who’d become secret followers, were usually trying to find some charge against Jesus.

The Pharisees were definitely in the class of those wanting to keep people from Jesus. They were the keepers of the law, the ones who enforced all the rules, whether they followed them strictly or not. I thought back to the time when we first became followers of Jesus. We were quickly taught all the rules, the dos and don’ts of being a Christian. But it was years before we truly understood God’s grace and love for us.

The Pharisees were also part of the Sanhedrin, and they judged the people. Nothing much has changed, as we tend to make ourselves judges of others, too. We judge those who don’t look, sound, or act like us, or don’t believe exactly as we do. We judge others by outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). We keep people from Jesus as they feel our critical looks and judgmental attitudes.

Unbelievers are always watching and listening to Christians. Do they hear frequent gossip, slander, backbiting, or tearing others down with our words? Do they see the hypocrisy of “good church people” who are adulterers, treat their family harshly, steal from work, or climb over others to get ahead? Do they witness Christians fighting over doctrine and building walls between one another?

Mahatma Gandhi said, “If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.” He noted that the Christians he’d encountered did not act like Christ.

So how can we be Christians who bring others to Christ? Jesus gave us a new command in John 13:34-35. He said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” People do not need more rules to live by. They need something to fill the void in their lives, as only Jesus can. They need the unfailing, compassionate, and unconditional love of God to fill their hearts.

Lord, reduce us to love. Help us to be the ones who will do whatever it takes to bring others to Jesus.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.

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