November 18, 2020

Today’s reading
Mark 2:1-12
Mark 2:4 King James Version
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

Very familiar story and miracle in our reading today. The Lord showed me something that makes me almost sick to my stomach that I am sure I have been guilty of in my life. We know the story four friends that any of us would be lucky to have. They did everything they could to get their friend to Jesus for some healing. We don’t know how far they traveled or really any details of their trip. The simple truth that I want you to see with me is that these men got their friend almost to Jesus but there were those there that were just happy to hear the message that were blocking people from getting to Jesus. Notice in verse 6 it was the religious crowd keeping these men from getting their friend the help he desperately needed. The religious crowd with their judgmental eyes and thoughts. Analyzing everything that was said and done, “reasoning in their hearts” God convicted me about this and I had to ask myself this question. Has my religion ever kept someone from getting to Jesus? Think about it, ask yourself that question. Has my judgmental attitude or spirit ever kept someone from seeing Jesus in my life. Has my attitude of caring more about what’s on the outside of a person kept me from seeing a soul that Jesus cares about and died for? Has another person’s lifestyle choices ever blinded me to the spiritual need they had, and in return put up a roadblock that kept them from seeing and coming to Jesus. I hope the answer for me is that has never happened but I have a feeling, as bad as it hurts to say, is that I have possibly kept someone from seeing and getting to Jesus. I pray the Lord forgives me for that, and I’m asking the Lord to help me to never be the reason that someone can’t get to Jesus for the need they’re seeking Him about.

Frank Newsome