Outward Sign of Inward Action

Mark 2:10-11"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

I have always thought of this verse as a way for Jesus to show His healing power, but in reality I think it was to show His forgiveness of sin to a culture that had misunderstandings. When Jesus forgives the paralytic, the teachers of the law were questioning His authority to do so. His response is to show them that the man's sins were forgiven. We have to think about what we know. The teachers would have thought that the man's paralysis was because of his sin. So Jesus healed the man as an outward sign to the teachers of the law of His inward action, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was not performing a miracle by telling the man to get up and walk. He was proving His authority over sin. What misunderstanding about God has paralyzed you? Let Jesus forgive you and listen to him telling you to "get up, take your mat and come home."

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Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord. This is God's word through Ezekiel in the Valley of the Dry Bones. There are a couple of thoughts that come to mind with this verse. First, I have to admit that sometimes I feel as though I have dry bones. I continue on my path and lose sight of the One who brings life. At times I am surrounded by things, people, or situations that suck the life out of me and I need the breath of life from the Spirit again. It is a conscious effort for me to not involve myself in things that are life taking. I make the decision to spend alone time with Jesus in order to experience His life giving power. Second, one word in particular stands out to me in this verse. It is the word settle. It is speaking to me today of a peace and calm that is ahead. Things ha...

By Grace

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Mercy and Compassion

Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. This is something I have struggles with, loving those who frustrate me. How can we be merciful to those who are "corrupt" without being judgmental? It is definitely not our place to judge one another, it is our place to love one another. Sometimes loving the people who are rude or cruel is the hardest part of being a Christian. My humanity would like to judge people for their behaviors and choices and lash out at them. I believe we are only able to show true mercy and compassion for others when we accept these for ourselves from Jesus and then He lives them through us. Allowing God to change our hearts in order that Jesus' mercy and compassion shine through is a journey. It's not always easy. On those difficult days, I remain quiet and ask God to love on me, so I...

Abbie Coffey

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