On Thankfulness
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2
The leaves have fallen. The turkey has been roasted. The football games have been played. Our day of thanksgiving has officially come and gone.
Where is that leaving you today, friend? If you’re like most people, your attention has now been turned to the busyness of the Christmas season. It's time to buy presents, put up trees, and escort kids to their many holiday functions.
I'm finding myself in a unique position this year. I am on a regimen of forced rest. I had surgery on my knee back in early November and although I'm mentally ready to get up and go and do all of the seasonal things, I simply can't. So far, I've done all of my shopping from my phone. I sat on the couch and watched my husband put up all of our decorations while our two toddlers ran in and out of the room. I finally managed to awkwardly sit at the dining table for meals and drag myself upstairs for showers, but I'm otherwise confined to a couch potato existence.
I finally had enough of watching from the sidelines the day before our Thanksgiving meal. I decided I was going to get up and get the dining table ready for the big day. I knew it wasn't going to be as elegantly dressed as in past years, but I had to at least get the black and white Halloween tablecloth off and pull out the correct place mats. Of course, as soon as I started pulling things off the table, my mother came in from the kitchen insisting I sit down. And, of course, she was right. I'd only been standing a couple of minutes but my hip was aching from supporting all of my weight and my bad leg was beginning to throb as well. I gave in and sat while my mom quickly fixed the table. I felt awful. I just wanted to do something to help get us ready for the holiday. I felt so bad that I was having to rely on my loved ones for help with literally everything.
As I sit here on the couch this morning, though, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have so many people who love me enough to stop their lives in order to help me with mine. And I want to share a piece of Scripture with you today that illustrates just how important it is too have good, loving friends and family who will do whatever it takes for your benefit.
"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'." - Mark 2:1-5
My favorite part of this piece of Scripture is the phrase, "When Jesus saw their faith." Their faith. Not the paralyzed man's faith. The faith of his friends who cared so much about getting him to Jesus that they were willing to come together, carry their friend whatever distance it was to this house, and then on top of everything, lift him up onto the roof, dig a hole in said roof, and lower him back down to Jesus. This wasn't a minor ordeal. It probably took hours out of their day, but the paralyzed men's friends had such strong faith that they knew if they could just get him to Jesus, all would be well.
When was the last time you tried to take a friend to Jesus? Never mind physically dragging them, but simply reaching out and demonstrating your faith that He can be their salvation just as He has been your own? I know it's been a hot minute for me. Afraid of being ridiculed or argued with, I'm more tempted to keep my faith in Jesus to myself. But how selfish is that? In 1 John 2:2, we are told, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." EVERYONE.
Every single person you encounter today, Jesus died to save. He wants His Father to grant them pardon for their sins because of the sacrifice He made. Doesn't that make you want to go and tell the whole world?? No matter what you've done, it can be forgiven.
So here's my charge to you today, friend. Think about that friend who needs Jesus. Think about what wonders it would do for his or her life to simply know Him and be loved by Him. I want you to pray about your next conversation with this person, because if you are nervous about what to say, we are told the Spirit will intercede on our behalf. Pray that God will give you the words and set up the circumstance for you to bring Jesus into the conversation. And then, act on your faith. If we can learn anything from the story of the paralyzed man, it's that his friends were indispensable in getting him to Jesus.
