Pillars are strong. They help support. Let us be the kind of people who fill in the gaps for others… when I think of filling in gaps, I immediately think of the men who went the extra mile to open up the roof of the house of where Jesus was in order to gently lay their paralyzed friend down smack in front of Jesus. They presented their friend’s need to the Savior. They stood in the gap for their friend. What does the Bible say? Luke chapter 5…
Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with [his] bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” verses 18-20
He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” verse 24
Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. Luke 25: 25
The paralyzed man was healed because of his friends’ faith (When He[Jesus] saw their faith…). The faith that impressed Jesus was the faith of this man’s friends. This really needs to teach us something! Our faith affects others. This is something that should speak volumes to us. Many Christians need to wake up! Take a look around… people all around us are suffering! Did you know that 1 in 3 people have some kind of chronic-invisible illness? We can’t judge people because of the circumstances they are in… Oh, and I see plenty of people who think they’re judges! Remember that it was his friends’ faith that impressed Jesus.
We can’t make another person a Christian, but we can do much through our words, actions, and love to give them a chance to respond. We all need to open our eyes to the opportunities around us. Look at what James has to say…
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1: 27 (NASB)
James is saying that the purest form of religion is supporting those who cannot support themselves. The Bible says when we give with no thought of receiving we show what it means to truly serve others. Each of us can be pillars for our friends, our family, our churches, and our communities. Let me end this post just by saying that by being pillars of strength and compassion for someone in their time of weakness reveals the amazing love of the One who is our pillar of strength and refuge in our time of troubles.