Faith on loan

May I borrow your faith?  A silly question to you, perhaps, but a story from Mark’s Gospel says otherwise.  Jesus went to Capernaum to teach and gathered a  standing room only crowd in the house where he was staying.  Four men came carrying a  man ‘sick of palsy’ (KJV), that is, paralyzed, to Jesus but they found the way to Him blocked.  Time to go home and try another day, right?  Not for these men!  They found a way onto the roof, tore a hole in it, and … well, let’s Mark tell the story.  "After digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” …  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!” Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them." (Mark 2:4-13, NIV)

One phrase stands out to me today – “When Jesus saw their faith.”  I do not know if the paralyzed man wanted to be there or believed that Jesus could heal him. But, what we can see is the active faith of four friends who brought him to the Lord! Their faith, on loan, is what Jesus noted and is that to which he responded.

This Monday morning you may in need of some borrowed faith!  Reach out to someone and ask for prayer.  Let them believe for you. James urges us to “pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” (5:16, NLT)  

I encourage you to be aware of need around you, too!  Do not wait to be asked.  Mark’s story makes no mention that the paralyzed man asked for anything. His friends took charge.  I hope you have great vision for the world and pray for people all over the globe, but do not miss the needs that exist right in front of you.  Your neighbor may need to be carried to Jesus!  That person who works alongside of you may be ready to give up on life and in need of some borrowed faith.   Last week, after hearing news that hit us hard, Bev and I were like that man. We were overwhelmed with sadness.  In the evening several friends gathered, without being called, in our living room and lifted us on their prayers into the Presence of God. Their faith was active on our behalf!  What we could not do for ourselves, in that moment, they did for us.  Their prayers on our behalf were gifts of faith.

Here’s a word from the Word.  "Dear friends, continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. Live in such a way that God’s love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering." (Jude 20-22, NLT)

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Father, I come to You today

Thanking You for the privilege You give to me

To be Your hands and feet in my world.

May I be ready to pick up those who are down,

To care tenderly for those whose faith is battered,

To lead those blinded by fear or doubt to You.

For those who have loaned their faith to me in the past,

I thank You and ask that Your rich goodness will be theirs.

Jesus, thank you for coming to us,

For loving us when we were unloving,

For inviting us to wholeness when we were sin sick.

Be honored today by our words,

Fill our thoughts, Spirit of God, with the things of the Kingdom.

In the Holy Name we pray

Amen.