There is a great story in the gospels about Jesus healing a paralytic man who was sitting on his mat. In this story Jesus also forgave the sins of the crowd who went to great lengths to bring the paralytic man into the presence of Jesus. When the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law saw Jesus forgiving sins, they objected. Jesus responded to their complete lack of faith in Jesus Christ, and so he healed the paralytic man, but not before He said this to those who doubted Jesus’ authority to forgive sins:
“22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — He said to the one who was paralyzed — ‘I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.’ 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen incredible things today’” Luke 5:22-26.
What has struck me for decades of reading this story repeatedly is that I have also been stuck on my mat about many things for years. I have been mired in habits and sin that needed Jesus to come to me and say, “Paul, I say to you, stand up and take your mat and go to your home.”
I ask you today to consider the mat on which you are stuck in your own life. Ask God to heal you by giving you the grace to stay up off of the mat — the thing in your life — on which you are stuck. What is crippling you? What is slowing you down? On what are you stuck.
Ask the Lord to help you off your mat and then go to your home. “Going to your home” means going back to God. God is where you are at home.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5.
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.
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