Carried to Jesus

Sometimes life hits so hard that you can't even crawl to Jesus, let alone walk. In those moments, you need friends who will literally carry you to Him. The story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2 shows us friendship at its finest - four men who refused to let obstacles stop them from getting their friend to Jesus. These friends didn't just offer thoughts and prayers from a distance. They took action. When the crowd blocked the door, they climbed on the roof. When the roof was in the way, they tore it open. They were determined to get their friend to the only place worth being - at the feet of Jesus. And notice what happened: Jesus saw their faith and healed the man. You need friends like this - people who won't let you stay stuck in your pain, your sin, or your discouragement. Friends who will push you forward when you want to give up, who will carry your burdens when they're too heavy for you alone, and who will do whatever it takes to get you back to Jesus. But here's the challenge: Are you this kind of friend to others? When someone in your life is paralyzed by depression, addiction, grief, or doubt, do you take initiative to help them? Do you persist through obstacles, or do you give up when it gets inconvenient? True friendship requires this kind of sacrificial love - the willingness to carry others when they can't carry themselves.
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'" - Mark 2:5