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Today's Quote
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Today's Verse
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Daily Wisdom
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In Matthew 9 there is a remarkable story of Jesus and a paralytic. The paralytic's friends brought him to Jesus on a litter. When Jesus saw him he said, " . . . your sins are forgiven." I call this story remarkable because when we read it we focus not on the forgiving but on the healing that followed.
Generally, those who read the story feel that the paralytic was brought to Jesus for healing not forgiveness. Matthew doesn’t tell us why the man came to Jesus. He may have come for healing or for forgiveness.
Why do we assume that the paralytic came for the healing of his body and not the healing of the soul? The answer may be in the attitude we have about sin and illness. Sin offends God but illness offends us.
As a weak human I tend to be more concerned with me than with God. That is a problem I face every day. I sin because I want my pleasure more than I want to please God. I can feel my own pleasure but I find it difficult to empathize with God’s feelings about me. I can not quite grasp the magnitude of my sin as it impacts God.
In this context let us look at Job. Impressed with Job’s righteousness and to demonstrate it, God allowed Satan to punish Job. In the end God was proven correct -- Job did not deny him.
We must bear in mind that Job was not aware of God's debate with Satan. He only knew that he was suffering without cause. His faith was strong, and though he wavered he did not break. Imagine how he would have behaved if he had heard God's discussion with Satan! Had Job known that God was counting on him, how much stronger would he have been?
You and I know the whole story. God is counting on us. When we put him first and do not sin against him he is pleased. If we understand that, we will be courageous daily as we live for him. And, if we sin we will want forgiveness far above all else. Is it possible that we might even come to him crippled or blind and desire forgiveness more than healing.
