Matthew 9:2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Faith is a funny thing. Can you see it? Is it something you hold in your hands? Something you receive wrapped up in pretty paper as a gift? We talk about ‘having’ faith in something: we’re confident that something will act in a certain way, sometimes without knowing ahead of time that it will. People in relationships pledge to be faithful to each other, to act in certain ways so that their bond together is strengthened. We encourage each other to faithfully come to worship and offer our gifts of time, talent and treasure in response. So faith sounds like it’s something to do. Faith is action.
The paralyzed man’s friends surely wanted to help him. It’s likely they had done all they could to ease his pain and discomfort. But these friends wanted to do more. So they took action, picking him up on his bed, taking him to the person they trusted could help. And Jesus, recognizing their faith immediately, healed the paralytic man.
Let your faith be active this Lenten season. Seek out ways to help others. Bring them to Jesus, in prayer, in worship, through acts of kindness. Let faith-in-action be what assures you that God will act also – people will be healed; strife will cease; fears will be calmed. Then be filled with awe, and glorify God.
Doug Williams
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