Good Morning,
“And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So, they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:17-19
The story above from Luke 5 is one of my favorites in all the Bible. It was one of those moments that I wish I could have been there to see. Jesus had just healed someone and now He was in Capernaum in a small house teaching. The house was full of religious leaders who had come to spy on him and try to trap Him. When I say the house was full, there was room for no one else.
Outside the house there were some men who were desperate to get their sick friend to Jesus. They tried to get in the house but could not. However, these guys were not the giving up type. These men were determined to do whatever it takes to get this guy to Jesus.
So, what did they do? They took him up to the roof and wrecked the roof to get him lowered in the house to see Jesus. What? They ripped a portion of the roof off to get their friend to Jesus. Talk about extreme measures.
We need that sense of urgency again in the 21st century church. We need to be moved again in these difficult times to love people as never before and be willing to do whatever it takes to bring them to Jesus.
So, what do you do when you cannot find a way to do something you believe you have been called to do? We could quit or say wait for another time and think we can do it maybe later. No, I think with the condition that this world is in, it is time to be like these men and think outside the box and be bold in reaching a hurting and lost world.
When you read this story, it presents an image of Jesus and the house filled with religious people who are focused on the teacher and have their backs turned to those who may be hurting. There is a time to learn and be focused on the teacher but now is also the time to get focused on a lost and hurting world.
My prayer is that God would give us as His followers the boldness to wreck a few roofs or, most importantly, to do whatever it may take to reach just one person for the cause of Christ. As a popular song says us, “An urgency to see one more broken life made whole and one more prodigal brought home!”
God is calling us to be willing like these men in Luke 5 to wreck roofs if we need to reach people! Are you ready to do whatever it takes to see someone come to Christ? Let’s lock arms as a church and fulfill the mission God has given us!
Rick Calloway
Head of School
Metrolina Christian Academy
