And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
I once tore the roof off of our house. It was messy and ugly work. These four enterprising men in our story are roof wreckers. They size up the situation and realize there is no way they will be able to get through the crowd and the tiny entrance to the house without getting nasty and dirty.
Jesus sees their faith. Jesus doesn’t notice that the roof is torn off, he sees faith. Jesus looks past the mess and sees faith.
Faith is always messy. Debris is falling on the heads of the people, dust, straw, dirt, falling in mass chunks on the heads of the assembled folks. What a mess faith can create.
These men didn’t care so much about the roof of the house, as they did the life of their paralytic friend. It was the life of their paralyzed friend that mattered to them more than the state of the roof.
People matter more to God than our stuff. Jesus sees their faith. Jesus sees a messy faith. Jesus sees a group of men that have their priorities right. Faith energy often is messy and dirty even in blessing others.
Tearing off the roof of a house is a messy work and so is the energy of faith. Jesus notices such faith that changes the lives of people.
Are you willing to use your stuff, even tear down your stuff for people? Is your house God’s house, useable to God’s purposes? Have you wrecked a few couches, damaged a few heirlooms, and stained your carpet in the name of loving people? Is your stuff God’s stuff?
Let me challenge you to open up your home to people. This coming week, invite a family over to your house and use your stuff to bless others. Jesus will see your faith and be pleased.
On the Road,
Steve
