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In Luke’s Gospel, he tells a powerful story of the healing work of Jesus in the life a paralytic. This man’s friends carried him on a mat to meet Jesus, and eventually lowered him through the roof of a house so that he might be healed. Luke writes, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven…’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and praised God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’”
Often when Jesus performs miracles in the Gospels, he does so in response to the faith of the person in need. In this instance, Jesus responds to their faith, the faith of the friends who carried the mat.
When one person’s faith can make a positive impact on the life of another, we simply call that congregational care. It’s the church caring for the church. Congregational care is one of the many aspects of what happens here on the Hill each and every week. Sometimes it’s done by a pastor. Many times, it’s done by thoughtful and loving members of our church. All of it is essential. And through Luke’s story, we’re reminded of just how powerfully our God responds to the faith of those who will desperately seek Jesus on behalf of another. Through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, or your encouragement, you can make a consistent impact on the lives of the people around you by the power of the Holy Spirit. How might God be leading you to love someone well this week? If you are looking for ways to provide care to others, or perhaps you are in need of help, I encourage you to check out our Care page for more information.
Pastor Brian
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