The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.
Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)
Series: Perfected in Unity
I was five years old. It was my first day of kindergarten. I did not know how monumental that day would be. I was a pretty shy little girl, and I wasn’t looking forward to being away from my mom. In fact, my mind was swimming with thoughts on how I was going to get out of this “school” thing.
As I sat at the classroom table, coloring pages and crayons laid out before me, I remember feeling alone and scared. A girl sat down beside me, grabbed two similar pages and said, “let’s color.” We colored the identical pages, matching every color to every image over and over that year. Oh, how I wish I kept some of those pictures. That girl is still my friend, 50 years later. (Yikes. That sounds old.)
It is wonderful how God sees our needs, isn’t it? He provided a friend for me when I needed it most and then kept us united in friendship all these years. We’ve spent our lives doing fun things together, sharing stories, and praying for one another’s family. We may have retired our crayons, but with the right amount of love and care, the bond we have will be lifelong. We all need friends who encourage us in our endeavors, celebrate with us in the good times, and bring us before the throne of God in our times of need.
As we look to scripture for an example of the life-changing power friends have when united in faith, we find the same beautiful story in three of the four gospels. Today, let’s look at the account in Luke 5:15-26 (ESV):
On one of those days, as He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when He saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
United in faith, the men brought their friend to Jesus. Refusing to give up when all the entrances to the home were blocked, their faith led them to carry the paralyzed man to the roof of the house. The tiles of the roof were all that stood between them and Jesus. Tearing those tiles off and lowering their friend into the glorious presence of the Messiah was all they focused on. These men knew their friends’ healing depended on it, and I believe the man on the mat knew it as well.
that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. (Romans 1:12 NIV)
Jesus recognized their faith, and with His words, brought this man to wholeness. Those men saw the power of their faith in action that day. Fully healed, the man walked out of that house carrying the very mat his friends carried him in on. Can you imagine the amazement of the crowd? The rejoicing when he got home? All because his friends joined, by faith in Christ, to make it possible. This act of love and friendship must have been encouraged even the crowds.
Sisters, unite in prayer for your friends. When we stand together, in mutual faith—in Jesus—much is possible. Together, we will witness the power of Christ change lives. What a tremendous hope we have in Jesus! He brings us together so that we may spur one another on.
Scripture reminds us in several places that friends are valuable and crucial for strengthening us, building us up, and sharpening us when necessary. But, let us not forget our most important friendship and that is the one we have with Jesus himself. Jesus calls you His friend! And He is our perfect example of the depths a friendship can go.
In John 15:13, Jesus teaches us:
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Jesus did exactly this, for you and me. And because of this, we don’t have to tear a roof off to approach Him. We must simply call upon His name. He tells us that as we seek Him, follow His teachings, love Him and others, our relationship with Him will be full. He is always with us, always for us, understands us, knows our deepest needs, and His grace is sufficient for us. His power is made perfect in weakness and you, my sister, are perfected in unity with Him as you put your trust in Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Proverbs 27:9; Luke 5:15-26; Mark 2:3-5; Matthew 9:2-8; 2 Corinthians 12:9; John 15:13; James 4:4; Romans 1:12, 8:31