Your Sins Are Forgiven

Responses to God's Faithfulness

God is Faithful

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Faith Saves

Luke 5:20-26 The Message 
18-20 Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.”
21 That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins.”
22-26 Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, “Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say ‘I forgive your sins,’ or to say ‘Get up and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both.  ” He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

For Reflection

My Austrian grandmother, then in her eighties, was a devout Christian.  In the mid-1940's she would listen to Kathryn Kuhlman's radio broadcast ministry. Kuhlman was one of the most well-known healing ministers in the world. When Kuhlman began her prayers for healing, my grandmother would place her hand on the radio and mouth the prayer along with her. Did it heal her physically? I don't know. But it was a sign of the strength of her faith and the confidence in God speaking through Kuhlman.

I suspect that Jesus saw in the paraplegic and his friends that kind of strong faith in the healing power of Jesus. Though they had eyes to see, the Pharisees could see only a violation of religious rules and dogma. They could not comprehend the meaning of what they had experienced.

Pray

Pray so that you will be able to see the miracle of physical and spiritual healing occurring all around you. Pray and be awestruck and give all glory and honor to God. Pray and see what others cannot.

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