And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. (Luke 5:25)
Golf truly is a unique sport for a lifetime. All golfers can really relate to all who play this fascinating game. We all know we need help.
All that to say, we golfers tend to have a compassionate quality to commiserate with other golfers. We form a bond and a fellowship that endures. We have played golf with good friends and love them anyway.
I so love the story told in Luke about the four friends who laboriously carried the mat of their paraplegic friend to Jesus. I envision them as corner toters who would stop at nothing to help their friend. They had a plan and would not stop at anything to get their beloved friend to Jesus. So, they each got a corner of his mat and began the journey. “We can do this. We must do this. This may be his only chance.”
Imagine the love they must have for their friend to carry him to Jesus. When they arrived, they could not get close, so they struggled up to the roof and laboriously removed tile to lower their friend down to Jesus. Imagine the scene and the interruption. Then Jesus calmly told the paraplegic, “Pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up and went home glorifying God!
And went home glorifying God! Are you kidding me? Verse 6 says, “They were struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Who was the hero? Obviously, Jesus because He was the one doing the healing which was a miracle. But what about the paraplegic’s friends? The man who was lame had a great need, but he also had willing friends. Friends who cared enough to take the time and effort to bring him to the home where Jesus was preaching. There were problems to overcome in getting him there, but they overcame the cost because they truly loved him. True friends do whatever it takes.
Now a true story that just happened in our local Links fellowship. A young man was rushed to the ER and found that his kidneys and liver were shutting down. He was placed in ICU with a breathing tube and hooked up to a machine that kept his internal organs working. He was 35 years old, and his friends in the Links players community were not sure of his relationship with Jesus, so they led a community prayer meeting for his recovery. Some went to the hospital and prayed with him. Two days later one of these Links players said, “This is not enough. I need to go see him and take him to Jesus.”
So, he went again to the hospital on a mission. He told him about Jesus and the Cross and His gift of grace offered all of us. He said, “If you understand what I am saying, squeeze my hand.” He squeezed his hand. “If you would like to invite Jesus into your life to forgive you of your sins and to be your Lord and Savior forever, squeeze my hand twice.” Immediately he squeezed his hand twice. Grace and tears of joy flowed.
Three days later he died and immediately went Home to be with Jesus. Sometimes God answers prayer in ways we cannot immediately understand. Again, the hero is Jesus, but this man needed friends to give him the opportunity to choose Jesus and get him Home.
I am grateful for all the corner toters in my life. This story inspires me to do the same for others. How about you?
Opening prayer – Lord, grateful is a good word for this year. Let us be grateful in good works for others.
Closing prayer – We need You, and we also need each other. Thank you.