Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Life Saving Faith
Luke 5:17-26
VS.24, 25 But so that you may know that the Son of Man as authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.” Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God.
As we are in the season of Great Lent, we are meditating on Jesus Christ’s public ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. In this passage, we see a group of men, trying to carry a paralyzed man on a bed to Jesus. Seeing that there was no way of getting around the people to Jesus, they went to the rooftop and let the paralyzed man down, from the top. The friends did not give up, and were willing to go to the maximum extent of enabling their friend to be healed no matter what physical obstacles or Pharisaic criticism was present. But in the end, the paralyzed man received healing and was restored to wholeness.
The blessings and experiences of healing in our life are all part of our salvation journey, and meant to enable us to grow in the saving knowledge of God, and to help bring others into this experience. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy (2:4) says, “…God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Christian life is the experience of life getting and life giving. The greatest thing was in seeing a paralyzed man being saved by Christ, through the faith of his friends.
Many times, as Christians, we experience, but fail to share these experiences with others.  When it comes to matters of faith, or blessings we receive, or healing we experience, we tend to keep it to ourselves. But this passage challenges us in our understanding, and reminds us that faith is shared. At the end of the read passage, all were able to glorify good. The experiences of salvation we have in our life are fulfilling when others are also able to share in that experience. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, NRSV).
The story of Jesus healing a paralytic is the archetype of what it means to have lifesaving faith. It is not simply about receiving life, but bringing others into the experience of eternal life, through Christ Jesus. That is what true Christian friends do. Our faith is a life-saving faith.
A lifesaver helps us in our difficulty. Why not be a Christ-like lifesaver for others?
PRAYER
Lord, help us to understand that our faith is life-getting, but also life-giving. Help us to experience the blessings of abundant life through you, and share it with others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We are saved to save others. What is your contribution to the history of salvation?
Rev. Dennis Abraham, Youth Chaplain, South East Region
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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