Living by Faith: In Evil Days and Good Days, for Myself and for OthersSample

Divine Interruptions

Imagine the pressing crowd; the sweat glistening on hundreds of foreheads in the hot sun as they strain to hear Jesus’ voice, every word dripping with soul-satisfying life. No one wants Him to stop. Imagine the crowds' irritation of the major disturbance digging through the roof of the house would cause. “What’s that noise!? We can’t hear! Stop that insolent sound—Jesus is talking!”  

Ah, yet how great a privilege to be able to lower someone to the very presence of Jesus. How relieving a gift to bypass the opinions of the crowd and go directly into the loving arms of Jesus.  

Jesus doesn’t just tolerate interruptions like these, He lives for them, because those that dig through the roof understand who He truly is. Their faith compels them to action! 

There is a faith that strains to hear and there is a faith that climbs a roof. There is a faith that believes for self, and still, there is a faith that contends for another.

Jesus honors our faith for others. It wasn’t just the paralytic man’s faith but his friends' that Jesus saw. We can go on behalf of others to the Lord. And when we do, we can expect a miracle of body, soul, and mind.  

Your faith affects a collective experience. The person’s faith next to you influences you. It is personal but not private. Built into each of our journeys is a divine system of corporate faith. Do not underestimate the effect of your friend’s faith on you. Do not pass the opportunity to act and dig through a roof on someone else’s behalf. Be the kind of believer that always carries a shovel.  
 

Life Application
What kind of faith do you walk in? What does Jesus’ presence in your life compel you to do? What roofs is Jesus inviting you to dig through to lower a friend to Jesus? Have you surrounded yourself with those who carry a shovel?  
 

Prayer
Jesus, I commit to digging towards you for others. I commit to bypass the crowds' noise to encounter your love. I make my faith-filled action available to you for others.