Faith of a Few Close Friends

 While driving in the car my children and I listen to the daily Pursue Journal bible App, the other day’s verses were from Mark 2:1-12 and it just made me think about what kind of friends are we and what kind of friends do we have?

Another thought came to mind about friends and who we surround ourselves with and that is they say “you are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with”. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing, so I made it my focus these past few days to really ask myself whom do I want to surround myself with and whom do I want to be the average of? Well my answer was I don’t want to be average at all.

I have also been singing the song from Steve and Annie Chapman “Faith of a Few Close Friends”  

“They took that man to Jesus, he had to faith of his own but when Jesus saw the faith of a few close friends He said take of your bed and go home”

This man in the parable was paralyzed he had no hope, but he had friends and I not sure these “friends” were even friends at all according to our definition, but they had FAITH in Jesus and that is all they needed to befriend this man. They were so determined to get this man to the feet of Jesus that they first got the man to the rooftop then they bore a hole in the root and lowered this man down into the house where Jesus was. It was nothing the man did but their act of faith that Jesus saw and he says in verse  5 “When Jesus saw their faith” (emphasis mine) the faith of a few close friends doing what their heart’s told them to do changed this man’s life forever. The physical healing was an outward sign of the power of Jesus but the internal healing is was what truly changed this man’s life.

This has caused me to ask myself am I a friend that has the faith to have someone’s life changed forever or am I the one that needs to be healed? I think there are moments in our lives where we have been in both positions but my mission is to be the friend that has the faith from here on out why? Because that Faith will and can change lives. I have had my life changed by accepting the Grace so freely offered from Jesus that I would be selfish not to share that with others to make it a priority to look for the person(s)in need and take them to Jesus and sit down at His feet.  

The story behind the song I mention above is when we see a need from our close friends or a stranger we stop and we need to be Kingdom minded and take them to Jesus through prayer, stop and carry that person’s bed and place them at the feet of Jesus. At times the hurt and pain is so much that we need someone to do the actions for us and for that Jesus told this man because of Their faith your sins are forgiven take of your bed and go home. Verse 5 and 11. Take your friends to Jesus and share your faith for it is truly all we have and the only mission we are given that matters.

This week I encourage you to reevaluate the people in your life and surround yourself with individuals that are lifting you up in faith and allowing you to lift them up as well, for this world will soon fade and the things that matter are so much greater than today will ever have. Increase your sense of Wonder of How Great Our God Really is and with that surrender your faith and your friends to Him. 

Blessings,

Joy For Fitness – Glorifying God in Faith, Family, Fitness & Food.