「耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：『你的罪赦了。』」 路5:20
当你身陷困境或面对危机时，你可以向谁求救呢？你需要援助、坦诚忠告或鼓励时，你可以找谁呢？我希望你有一些随时都愿意支持你的好朋友。
在这个年代，真挚的友谊似乎是罕有的福分。很多人把自己弄得太忙碌，以致没有时间和精力去培养深入的关系。人们时常彼此说：「让我们改天聚一聚吧」，可惜却甚少发生。
今日故事中的瘫子，终日卧在褥子上，甚至不能自己转身。幸而他有一些不嫌麻烦尽力帮助他的朋友，他们把他抬到耶稣那里，因为他们相信耶稣能医治他。但因人多堵塞进口，他们便用了颇为极端的方法，务求他们的朋友见到耶稣。
耶稣看见这些朋友的信心，很高兴。祂看见付诸行动的信心，祂看见排除万难的爱心，祂看见这些人无比的关怀和决心，确保把朋友带到祂面前。
耶稣也知道，这人不单需要身体的医治，他的心灵亦需要与神和好。你是否愿意不嫌麻烦带领你的朋友到耶稣那里，好叫他们也有机会与神和好呢？
THE COST OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:20
Who do you call on when you’re in serious trouble or facing a crisis? Who can you count on for help, for honest advice, for encouragement? I hope you have some good friends who are always there for you.
True friendship seems to be a rare gift these days. Many people have made themselves too busy to truly invest the time and energy it takes to develop significant relationships. Often people say to each other, “We’ll have to get together soon”--but it seldom happens.
The paralyzed man in our story for today was confined to a mat. He couldn’t even move himself around, but he had some friends who were willing to go out of their way to help. They took him to Jesus, believing that Jesus could heal him. And when the crowd blocked their way, they took some drastic measures to make sure their friend could meet Jesus.
When Jesus sees the faith of these friends, he loves what he sees. He sees faith in action. He sees love that is not held back by barriers. He sees people caring and determined enough to get their friend to him.
Jesus also knows that this man needs more than healing in his body; he has a heart that needs to be made right with God. Do we care enough to go out of our way to try to connect our friends with Jesus so that they can be made right with God?
PRAYER
Lord, fill our hearts with compassion and love that’s willing to be inconvenienced by the needs of friends and acquaintances. Help us introduce them to you. In your name, Amen.
