Aug 3, 2024 Daily Devotion

Pick Your Friends Wisely!

When Jesus saw their faith…

Matthew 9:2

As the paralytic was brought to Jesus by his friends, Jesus witnessed their faith and told the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven” (V2).This stirred up the Pharisees and Jesus then proclaimed that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”- he then instructed the paralytic, “Rise pick up your stretcher and go home” (V.6-7).

The friends of the paralytic who brought him to Jesus had faith and persistence. In Mark’s Gospel the friends climbed onto the roof and lowered the paralytic down to the Lord. Their perseverance impressed Jesus as Mathew tells us that it was “their faith” that moved Jesus to heal the man. Faith is so important that Jesus was not able to perform many miracles in his hometown of Nazareth “because of their lack of faith” (Mathew 13:58). Remember, we only need faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Be bold and persistent as you give praise to God.