Hey, that’s my roof!

In Mark chapter 2 we read a story of this dude who has been paralyzed and lives his life lying on a mat. The story tells of these other dudes, his friends, who hear that Jesus is in town, you know, the guy who they say can heal people of anything. So the friends go pick up their paralyzed buddy, and head off to see Jesus. When they arrive, they discover that there is no way to get through the crowd outside, let alone get into the house to see the great prophet (or even maybe the messiah). What do you suppose these friends do? Call it a day and head out for a hummus latte? Nope, they fight through the crowd and get right up to the house, towing their paralyzed friend with them. Then they climb up on top of the house (still dragging their friend), at the very least giving the crowd something to look at. Next they actually start taking apart the roof of the house (imagine that was your house), and they lower their paralyzed friend inside, mat and all, THUMP! Right at Jesus feet!

Awkward.

Not for Jesus. He forgives the paralyzed man of sin (perhaps for the benefit of those stiffs who thought that he must be paralyzed because of some great sin) then Jesus heals him, and he picks up his mat and walks out, to rejoin his friends who are right now escaping from the roof. The ones who would do anything to get their buddy in need - to the feet of Jesus.

What kind of friend does that?

Would you like to have such friends as these? Would you like to be a friend like that? What if I suggested to you that it is your God given destiny to be that kind of friend?

What’s wrong with me that I don’t love my neighbour?

That’s a question that I have asked myself and God over and over for more than 20 years. Truthfully though, “What’s wrong with me that I don’t love my neighbour” is the wrong question. It implies that I should have the ability within myself to love my neighbour. While I have met some people who appear to have alot of this ability in themselves... I do not. Especially when I consider “love” from Christ’s point of view. The best I could possibly muster on a good day is woefully inadequate by His standards. And really – His standards are the only ones that matter. (Hmmm that last sentence may be for some of you in particular.)
So then, How do I love my neighbour enough by His standards? The simple truth is that I can only give out of what I have... that if I don’t have an overflowing supernatural personal experience of the God’s Love, how can I hope to give it. On the other hand, if I do have a deep experience of Christ’s love for me – how can I not give it?

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”

(1 John 4: 16-17) NLT

Perhaps then the right question is...

“What do I need to accept,
or release,
or do,
in order to experience His love for me more?”

It’s kind of a big deal. More people than just you – are depending on this experience of yours. Why not make it a goal this Easter season to do all within your power to...

“...understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

(Eph 3 18-19)