Tuesday's Thoughts: Your faith affecting others

Luke 5: 18- 20

"And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee."

Growing up I would always listen to Bible stories on tapes. With the tape I visualized a man in his late 30's sick of palsy....

One day a friend came to this palsy man and excitedly told him about this Jesus that can heal. For years that friend had seen the palsy man laying there, not able to do the things everyone took for granted. Vut latly He had heard storied of people being healed. Could it be that his palsy friend had a chance to be normal? He had to tell him!



After the palsy man heard his excited friend's story he shook his head in disbelief. What he was hearing was to good to be true. "No", he answered, "No need to bring me there. We would just make fools of ourselves." But his friend would have none of it. Together with three mutual friends he conspired a plan. They knew where Jesus would be next and they just had to get the palsy man there!

The next morning they laid the palsy man on a blanket with sticks and picked up a corner, going to the house where Jesus was....while the palsy man, embarrassed of the situation, grumbled under his breath.



Even though they got there early, the house was full and a crowd had gathered in front of the house. They pressed, they asked, they tried to get the door but no one would let them through. The palsy man told them to go home, that it wasn't any use. That it was probably happening for a purpose. It was just not meant to be....


The four friends put their friend down and stood there trying to figure out what to do when they all noticed the stairs leading to the top of the house. Their eyes met and they knew they were thinking the same. They took their friend and climbed up the stairs.

Hitting the roof with sharp rocks, it did not take them long to make a hole. Outside people shouted to them to stop. Inside people screamed and jumped out of the way. Everyone was looking up as suddenly a bed with a man slowly came down the roof and was laid at Jesus feet. Here is where we read those beautiful words: "And when he saw their faith" Their faith. THEIR faith. He forgave the man his sins and healed him.

How can you affect someone with your faith? Do you have a family member or friend that aren't saved? Do you pray and have faith that God is working on them and that one day they might be saved?

Is their a family member, friend or acquaintance going through a rough time? We will never know but maybe YOUR faith and prayers is what will get them through!

Are you maybe doing something the Lord is asking of you but it seems risky or "impossible"? Maybe it will be YOUR faith that the people around you see and inspire them to want that same faith in God orr a fellow Christian will grew in the Lord after seeing you step out on faith.

Ask yourself today: Do I have faith that can and will affect others?!