Go Home Glorifying God
Scripture
Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
(Luke 5:25 NASB)
(Luke 5:25 NASB)
Observation
This is the man who had been paralyzed and his friends brought him to Jesus. So often we remember that he was healed and could now walk but we don't remember how he left the presence of Jesus. He picked up his mat and left glorifying God for what he had done.
Application
There is an important message here in the healing of the paralytic
and that is that Jesus did not just heal people physically, he healed
them spiritually. As a result of his healing this man knew that it was
God who had healed him. He entered into a personal relationship with
God as a result of what had happened and when he went home he didn't
keep it to himself, but instead he left telling people about what God
had done for him.
I've been writing a lot lately about responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in our world. Why? Because there are many people who are being affected by what is going on in our world and are the silent victims of the violence. I feel that God is calling his children to be a voice and to help make a difference for those who are suffering from this violence. Why? Not just to help heal physical wounds, but so that God can be glorified. Physical wounds may be healed, but ultimately in the issue of GBV people need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ which has the power to set them free! It is the transformational power of Jesus Christ in the lives of people that will make the difference in the long run. We don't need people going home praising a government, an NGO, or an individual -- but to go home glorifying God. Therefore our efforts must be directed just as Jesus was -- yes, to heal the sick, to touch people at the point of their deepest need, but always to point them toward Jesus Christ.
Christianity should be transformational because it should lead people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that transcends culture. The problem comes when we turn Christianity into culture without the power of God's Holy Spirit. When that happens we see people wanting Christianity to change things by force. That's not how transformational change occurs. That can only happen from the inside out. That's what happened to the paralytic. He wasn't just physically healed, he was transformed and the result was that he left that place glorifying God.
I've been writing a lot lately about responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in our world. Why? Because there are many people who are being affected by what is going on in our world and are the silent victims of the violence. I feel that God is calling his children to be a voice and to help make a difference for those who are suffering from this violence. Why? Not just to help heal physical wounds, but so that God can be glorified. Physical wounds may be healed, but ultimately in the issue of GBV people need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ which has the power to set them free! It is the transformational power of Jesus Christ in the lives of people that will make the difference in the long run. We don't need people going home praising a government, an NGO, or an individual -- but to go home glorifying God. Therefore our efforts must be directed just as Jesus was -- yes, to heal the sick, to touch people at the point of their deepest need, but always to point them toward Jesus Christ.
Christianity should be transformational because it should lead people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that transcends culture. The problem comes when we turn Christianity into culture without the power of God's Holy Spirit. When that happens we see people wanting Christianity to change things by force. That's not how transformational change occurs. That can only happen from the inside out. That's what happened to the paralytic. He wasn't just physically healed, he was transformed and the result was that he left that place glorifying God.
Prayer
Lord, may my life glorify you and may the ministry you lead me to result in you getting all the glory. Amen.
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