Being There

"Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."—1 Thessalonians 5:11

The guys and their friend on the stretcher (Luke 5:17-26) were commended by Jesus for their faith. Not just the one guy, nor any old definition of faith, but the one-another kind Francis Chan describes as “holding nothing back; it bets everything on the hope of eternity.” Against all odds and obstructions, it believes, it perseveres, it never gives up.

Perhaps in this scene Jesus was already beginning to reveal the blueprint for His Church — one that would make no sense to most people on the outside looking in, and one He knew would surely be filled with imperfection (because, hey, we just walked in the door), but despite all of that, the gates of hell would never have the final say against it.

It's a blueprint not dependent on programs, meetings, org charts, and committees, helpful as those may be. Instead, the One who liked sending disciples out in twos, who surrounded Himself with multiples, who coined the phrase "and where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them," laid out an unexplainable, mysterious, wonderful, supernaturally powerful plan never to be  found in any club or civic organization.

Because at one time or another, we are all the guy on the mat — at the end of our rope and feeling paralyzed to do anything about it. At other times, we are to be the friend(s) who comes alongside and won't let another give up. And when that happens, and when the Hope of eternity is our pursuit, as this story reveals, who knows what miraculous thing might result, and the witness it might fuel before a desperate world, to the glory of God...

"And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Lord, thank You for the people in our lives who have been there on those days when we've been on that stretcher. And even today, help us to put down our cell phones for one second and be that kind of Church to someone else.