7 18 12 Don’t forget to pray. Ask God for insight and an understanding of his Word. This insight or enlightenment is a work of grace and a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pray you will have eyes to see and ears to hear the marvelous ways that God is showing his love to all his creation but especially to his family of believers.
Scripture: Mark 2:5-12 (NIV) 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some teachers of the law were…thinking to themselves…Who can forgive sins but God alone?" …Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking…and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?... 9 Which is easier: to say … 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Note: Two different groups of people were there that day. One group saw an act of God, called it a miracle and they were amazed. The other group saw an act of God, a miracle, and called it blasphemy. What a contrast!
The first thing Jesus did when he saw the demonstration of the men’s faith was to forgive the paralytic of his sins. The Scribes response to this reveals their motive for being there. They were not there to witness the greatness of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, they were there to look for something that they could use to discredit him and have him arrested. The paralytic and his friends witnessed a miracle. They came fully expecting their friend to be healed. They believed if they could get close enough to Jesus he had the power to heal him. They believed in the power of Jesus Christ to heal and because of their faith they were rewarded.
The scribes witnessed blasphemy. They knew that what Jesus said to the man about his sins being forgiven was an admission by him that he is God. To the paralytic this was the miracle he needed and wanted – to be healed. Jesus knew the thoughts of the paralytic and his friends and he knew the thoughts of the scribes. He asked the Scribes, “which is easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘get up, take your mat and walk?’” Jesus demonstrated to the scribes that he was in fact God because He was all-knowing. He is also all-powerful and possessed the authority necessary to do what he was about to do. He performed a healing miracle, a miraculous work of God. He spoke forgiveness to a sinner and in the power of his voice, commanded the paralytic to take up his mat and walk. What Jesus wouldn’t do that day, was allow himself to be intimidated by a bunch of hypocritical, self-righteous Jews.
What group are you in? Are you in the group that has the faith to know and to claim the promises Jesus has made to you or are you in the group that’s looking for a way to discredit Jesus? Hopefully you are in the first group. If so you know the following is true:
1. Jesus will forgive a person’s sins when they come to him in faith believing that he can heal them of their sin-sickness. He knows the thoughts and the motives behind why the person is coming. He knows if the person wants to be forgiven so they can be physically healed, or if they want to be healed and forgiven so they can have a righteous relationship with God. Jesus knows their hearts and why they come but He expects us to come for all the right reasons.
2. Jesus loves you and is concerned with your welfare, your body, your thoughts and your emotions, but he is much more concerned with your spiritual well-being. He wants you to come to him in faith, asking him to forgive you your sins and to give you the gift of eternal life.
3. The third point has to do with one of my favorite verses of Scripture, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Notice the progression. We come to Jesus, to confess our sins. When we do this we are exhibiting our faith, our faith in his faithfulness and our faith in his justice. Then we believe by faith that what we have done is pleasing to him and he will do what he says he will do, forgive us our sins and purify us from all our unrighteousness. Please take note of the word all in the scripture – all means all! There is no greater witness for God than one who knows he is forgiven!
Word from the Lord: “Beloved, why labor under the load of sin? Come to me in faith and I will forgive all your sins and give you the power to live your life for me. I can set you free from all guilt and shame. I can give you peace of mind, resulting in good health. I love you and want you to be whole.”
Did the Lord speak to you today? Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.
Prayer: What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!
If you are not interesting in receiving these devotionals please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I hope you enjoy them and that they encourage you to faithfulness. david
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