Holston Daily Devotional February 20,m 2021

Focus Scripture

Matthew 9:2-13

2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

10 And as he sat at dinner[a] in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting[b] with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

Devotion

Several years ago my brother and I went to visit our uncle who was in the hospital due to advanced lung disease. Upon entering the room he appeared to be incoherent, but after a while my brother, now a retired Methodist minister, asked him if he would like to be baptized; our uncle understood. As the water began to trickle over his head and down his face, he spoke these words, “I feel cleansed”.

Matthew 9: 1-8 tells the story of the paralytic burdened with a physical disability. He was an outcast and overlooked until the day his friends carried him to Jesus.

Matthew 9: 9-13 tells the story of Matthew; an outcast; despised for his occupation; until one day Jesus found him.

As we read the verses, perhaps over and over, and maybe with the use of a Bible commentary, we need to infer some things about these two men. This was the first time they are mentioned and none of their words are recorded. We do not know what was in their hearts, but Christ knew and what He saw was their faith and their desire to change.

One was healed and no longer had to depend upon his friends to carry him places.

The other was a tax collector, working a job that he had been appointed to do by the Roman government. He overcharged the people in order to gain a sizeable commission. He cheated the Jewish citizens to enrich his own pockets and to help the very government that was oppressing the people paying the taxes.

Neither man could realize a change until they experienced a spiritual healing through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Through the justifying grace of Jesus change happened.

Romans 3: 23-24: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Modern medicine and technology are tools used to help bring about healing. But modern medicine and technology cannot forgive sins and will never have the authority or power to do so.

Jesus demonstrated His authority over physical and spiritual healing. Upon hearing the words “Get up, take your mat and go home” and “follow me” these men were transformed into a new person with new life; the old was gone. Because of Christ’s forgiveness of their sins their lives would never be the same.

The paralytic walked toward his home as the crowd praised God for this miracle. Matthew invited fellow tax collectors and others to eat with him and Jesus. Imagine the look on the Pharisees’ faces when they saw Jesus eating with those sinners. But it is not about those that think they are righteous, it is about the sinners seeking a new way of believing and living what they believe.

We do not hear any more about the healed paralytic; but we know that Matthew became a disciple and helped to spread the Good News and to help establish the foundation for the Christian church.

In the final three weeks of our uncle’s life he realized that he was tired of carrying around the burdens in his life. Modern medicine would not bring about a physical healing, but Christ brought a spiritual healing. Christ looked at our uncle’s heart and forgave him of his sins. He realized his forgiveness. He shared with others, his personal experience with God and how Christ had “cleansed” him; how Christ had transformed him into a new person through mercy and saving grace.

The paralytic, Matthew, and our uncle put their faith into action by walking away from the burdens of a sinful life. Each was cleansed of their sins by the only one with authority to forgive,

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for the forgiveness of ours sins. May we walk our walk and talk our talk of faith for others to see. Amen