Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
“Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.” Mark 2:4
Faith is full of inventions. The house was full and a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting to the Lord and placing the paralytic man before Him. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that roof tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause minor danger to those below. But where the need is urgent we shouldn’t mind running some risks and rustling some feathers. If we cannot direct sinners to Jesus by ordinary methods, then we must use extraordinary ones!
Jesus was there to heal, and therefore, ignoring the consequences, the paralyzed man’s friends risked everything in faith so that he might have his sins forgiven. I so dearly wish that we would have more daring faith like this! Can we seek this kind of faith for ourselves and for our co-workers? Can we promise today to perform some new noble act for the love of God’s children for the glory of the Lord? The world is constantly inventing, and faith may invent too in order to reach the outcasts who lie in need around us.
Is the Lord among us right now? Have we seen His face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt His healing power? If so, then through doors, through windows, or through roofs, let us labor to bring poor souls to Jesus, ignoring the consequences. If hunger for physical healing can break through roofs, surely hunger for souls should not to be hindered. It was the presence of Jesus, after all, which excited such courage in the friends of the paralyzed man. All means are good when faith and love are truly set on winning souls.
Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching those who don’t know You, and bold to carry these methods out!
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