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\ / WHAT JESUS DID! -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
True Friends
Jesus got into a boat and went back across the lake to his
own town. Some people brought to Jesus a man that was
paralyzed (crippled). The man was lying on a mat. Jesus saw
that these people had much faith. So Jesus said to the
paralyzed man, "Young man, you'll be glad to hear this! Your
sins are forgiven." Some of the teachers of the law heard
this. They said to themselves, "This man (Jesus) talks like
he is God--that is blasphemy. "
-- Matthew 9:1-3 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
True friends are friends that help us find Jesus and let him minister
to our needs and brokenness. Like the unnamed friends in this story, we
must come to realize that the best thing we can do for a friend is help
that friend come to Jesus. Our faith can make a huge difference in the
lives of those closest to us. What's so amazing about Jesus is that he
ministers to our real need, not just our apparent need. The key is
finding him, and helping others find him. He'll do the rest, working
his will in our lives if we're truly willing to let him take control of
our own. Of course, he will work on what we most need, not necessarily
what we most want. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will
criticize us, along with Jesus, for doing his work. "It doesn't fit the
way things are 'normally' done," they would accuse. "Precisely," I
imagine Jesus saying, "something needs to be done differently enough to
be truly redemptive. That's why I came!"
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and generous God, I surrender to you all of my life. I confess
that there are parts of my life and my heart that I sometimes try to
keep hidden from you. But this story of Jesus reminds me that the only
person I'm fooling and hurting is myself. Heal what is broken in me.
Take a look at it all, and humble me gently and remake me by your
redemptive grace. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0414-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+9:1-3&sr=1&t=erv
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