On a lighter note, before we get “all serious”…I wonder if anyone ever patched up the huge hole they made it that guy’s roof? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
When studying the Bible I have often heard it’s a good practice to see the event from different perspectives. Just for fun, I thought “why not try to see this from the perspective of the homeowner”? Okey Dokey….Let me allow my imagination to wander for a second or two:
Since Jesus is already in this man’s home, I imagine he was sympathetic to the cause, or already a believer. Jamming that many people into such a small space means that some of your things are going to be broken or trampled. I found myself trying to imagine what this house looked like the day after Jesus ministered there. Now the crowds are gone and our host is left with a mess on his hands, and a huge hole in his roof. It makes me feel good to think that the 4 men who lowered their friend hung around to fix the roof….but I think they probably were so excited at his healing they followed him home rejoicing and didn’t even think about it. Waxing serious for a minute: there is a cost for following Christ, and allowing Him to minister to others through you. Sometimes there is a mess to clean up afterwards. Often the task of cleaning up goes unnoticed, and those who labor there can be tempted to think that no one cares about them or their part of the ministry. They might be tempted to think that they have been taken advantage of, or that no one appreciates what they have sacrificed. I have found myself in this position once or twice; sweeping and mopping the floor after the big event, fixing the broken equipment and restocking the shelves, carrying out the trash and taking down the decorations that were left behind. Today I want to celebrate the people who minister after the event is over. I want to express appreciation for everyone who works hard on the clean up detail, knowing that nobody is going to praise them for bring the place back to normal. Those who decorate are praised more often than those who clean up, but both are equally important. Three cheers for the hard working custodians and volunteers who clean up the youth rooms and the kitchens and bathrooms. Hat’s off to the hardworking volunteers who vacuum the Sanctuary, launder and put away the costumes, sweep up the hay, the glitter, the candy wrappers and spilled cereal. God bless the people who wipe down every single table after the meals, wash and put away all the dishes and turn in a list to thing needed for next time, and thank you Lord for the people who go and buy those things and restock the shelves. I praise God for all the people who serve after the fact without ever becoming bitter. Without them there wouldn’t ever be a second, or third event.
I probably shouldn’t leave this post without mentioning that Peter’s obedience led to a greater understand and appreciation of Christ. Faithful obedience leads to deeper relationship and revelation.
The pharisees were there to judge and obfuscate. They wouldn’t move so the crippled man could come to the front to be healed. I suppose every ministry will have it’s opponents.
There’s so much more…. but that’s for me today.
Be blessed,
Pastor Rick