Day 5: (2/22)
WEEK 2: Written by The Grocholski Family
Adam and Ann Marie:
Maya (18), Sophia (15), and Ellie (10)
Day 5 (2/22)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:1-8
Written by Ann Marie
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
When was the last time you were so bold in your faith that you asked God to do the impossible? In Matthew 9, upon entering Jesus’ hometown, some men carried their friend who was a paraplegic on a stretcher and laid him at Jesus’ feet. They boldly laid him there with the clear expectation that Jesus would and could do what seemed to be impossible and physically heal their friend. When we ask in faith sometimes God gives us even more than we ask for! For this man who was suffering and probably did not have much longer to live, Jesus went beyond just healing him physically but spiritually by freely offering him the forgiveness of sins. Just like that, his body was made whole again and, even more so, his soul was healed. Jesus not only proved he had the power to heal our bodies, but he proved the purpose of his life’s work: to reconcile our lives with God by wiping away our every mistake, our every failure, our every imperfection. When we come to him in bold faith miracles can happen in our lives and we become a new creation!
Prayer: Jesus, help me to come to you with boldness with every need knowing that you can do more than I can possibly ask or imagine in my life. Thank you for loving me completely and move me to do your kingdom work here on earth by forgiving others just as you have forgiven me.