Thought for January 18, 2024

•  1644: Pilgrims in Boston report America's first UFO sighting
• 1865: Battle of Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island South Carolina--visited many times
• 1896: First demonstration of an x-ray machine in the US
• 1919: Bentley Motors founded
• 1948: Premier of ""Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour"
• 1951: NFL rules centers, guards and tackles ineligible for forward pass
• 1974: "$6 Million Man" premiers--wonder what it would cost now?
• Born: Peter Mark Roget, Daniel Webster, Joseph Glidden [first usable barbed wire, paint], Daniel Williams [performed first open heart surgery], A.A. Milne, Oliver Hardy, Cary Grant, Danny Kaye, Ray Dolby, Bobby Goldsboro, Kevin Costner
• Died: John Tyler, Louisa Stead ["Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus", written by a widowed mother who took her child and went as a missionary to Africa], Rudyard Kipling, Charles Ponzi, Curley Howard, Goose Tatum, Minnesota Fats, Sargent Shriver

Richard Harvey Cain died on this date in 1887. Son of a Cherokee mother and black father, he was converted at 16. He became an AME pasator founding several churches in South Carolina. His home church grew to 2000 members. He helped found the S.C. Republican Party, was a member of the S.C. Constitution Convention, and later a Congressman. At his death South Carolina Baptist and Methodist passed a resolution: "He was chaste in thought and word, and was a living epistle seen and read of all men." 

Thought:

Today I am looking at one of the first Bible stories I can really remember being taught. I can see Miss Mary and Miss Christine [single sisters] holding that little picture of the man being lowered through the roof and hearing the story from Luke 5:17-26. I always try and figure out who I am in the story. Here, am I the paralytic, the four friends, the owner of the house, the crowd inside, the Pharisees and teachers. As with most stories I see some of Larry in all of them. 

Jesus is teaching. that is not unusual. But check out the audience--Pharisees and teachers of the law. Certainly there were other "ordinary" folks crowded into this house, but of course the front row was the Pharisees and scribes. A man is paralyzed. We are not told how long or how he became paralyzed, but he was dependent and could not walk. He had four friends. We don't know how far they carried him. The crowd would not let them in the door, but they were determined to get this man to Jesus. They take apart the roof and lower him right before Jesus. Jesus sees their faith and tells the cripple his sins are forgiven. This creates a stir--only God can forgive sin. Jesus knows our every thought so He asks which is easier--to says your sins are forgiven or to tell the man to walk. Then to demonstrate His authority to forgive sin, Jesus says "walk" and the one carried in on the stretcher walks out glorifying God. And the response is we have seen something remarkable today.  Now think about the people there:

• The Pharisees and scribes came to listen to Jesus. Most were probably seeking something to challenge, something to catch Jesus with. They were the important people present. And they wanted the front row. Sometimes I think I must be like the Pharisees--don't really want to believe, but want to hear what Jesus has to say--maybe there is something I can use, some tip, some hint. Want to be near, but not all in.
• The crowd didn't want to give up their place to let the cripple in. Sounds like church. I don't want my schedule to change to let the lost in. I don't want to give up my seat, I don't want anything to change. If they want to know Jesus, they can come my way. When Belmont Heights church was beginning to shrink on the way to failing, I met several times with the leaders urging them to offer non-traditional services, something that would appeal to the growing college population next door. The answer was, the students are always welcome, but we like things the way they are. The church is dead and an opportunity to change hundreds or thousands of young lives has gone away.
• House owner. Must have been a good person to welcome the crowds to hear Jesus. When  the first piece of the roof fell to the floor do you wonder what he was thinking? I was happy to share my house, but not have it destroyed. Did he think differently when the man was healed? Been there--didn't want to go serve, but then the Lord blesses and it was worth all the trouble.
• The friends must have really liked the cripple. They were fully committed to do whatever it took to get him to Jesus. their faith was so strong that Jesus could see it. WOW! Am I that kind of friend who will do whatever it takes, pay whatever the cost to get my friends to Jesus? 
• The cripple. Think about his day. I woke up helpless, dependent, needy. I end the day walking, free, forgiven. Wonder what he said to his friends after he was healed. Wonder what he told everyone who saw him walking--what a change--how did that happen? Does my walking glorify God? Do I thank those who helped me find Jesus, follow Jesus, grow in Jesus.

Which of these characters are you today? 

Blessings

Larry