The Best Friends are the Ones who Lead You to Christ

 

“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.” Mark 2:3-4 NKJV

“Life has changed when you run a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) on a high school track for a Bachelorette party! I know the peeps out there for football practice probably thought we were loonies, but we love you Melissa and would do anything for you.” These were the words written by my very dear friend and sister in Christ, Laura Murrieta, on August 13, 2022 (don’t you just love Facebook memories?) just days before marrying my sweet Larry (which was one of the best days of my life). As Laura stated, we had a blast celebrating the end of my single days by running a race we deemed the “Gettin Hitched Half Marathon.” My amazing friends turned it into the most epic and unforgettable bachelorette party there ever was or could be; a party that even featured music and a fancy decorated food table complete with iced coffee (my personal favorite), lemonade, sweets, and snacks that served as our aid station for 52 laps plus the .1! And, of course, you know we had to have matching shirts! All of this hoopla was arranged by and paid for by my amazing friends who I consider priceless. 

And, you know, when it comes to having friends that are considered priceless, there are none better than the ones that help you get closer to Christ—something that’s illustrated in the story of the paralytic man who was healed because of the heroic efforts of his amazing friends. You see, after Jesus entered Capernaum to preach, people immediately gathered in the house He was in to hear him speak. So many gathered, in fact, that there was no room for the paralytic man’s four friends (who were carrying him) to get him to Jesus. They couldn’t even get the man into the door! So what did they do? 

“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.” - Mark 2:4-5

These friends, who apparently would do anything for the man, carried the paralytic up to the roof (was that a workout or what?) and then made a way through the roof (another workout!) for the man to come to Jesus. These friends let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying, in hopeful anticipation I’m sure that Jesus would heal their friend. Can you just imagine the look on peoples faces when they saw a man being lowered into the room?? But the best part was hearing Jesus say to the paralytic, “Son, your sons are forgiven you.” The people must have been shocked! Jesus then later healed the man and the man “arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!’” How’s that for a happy ending?? Because of his friends, the paralytic man received both spiritual (the most important) and physical (the most visible) healing that had people in awe of the power of Jesus Christ.

So, knowing that the Lord is still in the business of miracles, who is it among your companions that needs to be “lowered into the room” my friend? Who is it that needs your prayers for healing and your actions to lead them closer to Christ?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the people in our lives who lead us closer to You. Thank You for those brothers and sisters who love us as You do and who would do anything for us. Help us to be those friends to others Lord that we all might grow closer to You through the godly friendships You bless us with. It’s in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!