Sick of Religion? Week 2: Devotional Day 7

DAY 7 – Sunday

Daily devotional

Read

Mark 2:1-12, James 5:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 20:35, Isaiah 58:10

Ask

When was a time when you needed to accept help from someone else?

Are you someone who finds it easier to give, or to receive support from others?

Reflect

My three daughters and I flew 2,000 miles from our temporary home in Vancouver, BC, to Kansas City in order to get our house listed on the market to sell. Closets needed decluttering, the landscape freshened up, furniture rearranged, and “stuff” hauled off for giveaway. I had three days to get everything ready and locked back up. Long story short, I needed help. One thing I’m terrible at: asking for help. This situation felt dire and the clock was ticking so I called in backup. The next day my brother-in-law arrived with extra hands and a pickup truck. Friends walked through our door with time and energy to help. After 48 hours, my house was in pristine condition and ready for the realtor’s inspection. My heart still overflows with humility and gratitude for people who showed up that day. God answered my prayers with their willing hands.

We don’t know what events led up to the moment when men were ripping apart a roof in order to lower their friends into the presence of Jesus. We don’t have record of their deliberations of how to overcome the problem of a blocked front door. We don’t know the ins and outs of any of their relationships, but we do know these four people went literally above and beyond a normal idea of “assistance” in order to help their helpless friend. Jesus said it was their faith he was responding to with healing.

I wonder if the words of Isaiah 58:10 shown on the men’s faces that day? We can only imagine, but what we do know is that four men walked up to the house that day in Capernaum and five men walked home. When in your life have the words of Jesus recorded in Acts 20:35 felt significant and true?