Luke 5:17-26
Of all the people we see in Luke 5:17-26, it’s the four friends of the paralyzed man who really captured my attention. I was struck by their commitment and dedication, and their absolute determination to help this man get in front of Jesus–even though the task proved to be difficult, requiring a somewhat complicated and a typical solution.
Reading about these friends brought to mind a few friends of my own who have gone above and beyond for me. I am grateful for that handful of close Christian friends, and don’t know what I’d do without them. But this account also prompted me to examine myself and how I am as a friend. I considered: Am I like these men? Am I willing to help others–even if that means giving up personal time or maybe taking off from work? If I know something is going to be physically or emotionally demanding do I shy away from helping or do I jump in to help? Am I willing to stick with my friend when the difficult situation doesn’t resolve itself quickly?
How important is it that we seek out and develop close Christian friendships? When have you gone “above and beyond” to help a brother or sister in Christ? What was the result?