Worth It

Mark 2:⁴ “But when they realized that they couldn’t even get near him because of the crowd, they went up on top of the house and tore away the roof above Jesus’ head. And when they had broken through, they lowered the paralyzed man on a stretcher right down in front of him!” (TPT)

Compassion. Faith. Action. Persistence. Creativity. Cooperation. Our seventh lesson from Mark 2:1-12 is Sacrifice. Jesus was living in a rented apartment because we have no record of Jesus building a house or owning property. So, let us imagine that Jesus just got back from a crusade and was at home resting. When people heard He was around, they came to His house in multitudes. These men also heard Jesus was in town, and because of their compassion for their friend, they carried him to Jesus knowing He would heal their friend. They took action. But when they got to His house the place was packed, with no room to get through to Jesus. They persisted, climbed on Jesus’ roof successfully, carrying their friend. They tore Jesus’ roof and together, lowered their friend. The landlord shows up and says, Jesus, you are having a crusade in my house? Now see what has happened to my roof, who is going to pay for it?

These four men were willing to pay for Jesus’ roof. If four men were going to tear the roof to get something done, they were willing to pay for it. That is how real men are actually. A reasonable man pays his way. They would already have calculated the cost and decided that push comes to shove, they will pay for the roof. Are women like that? Some women think like men, I have met a few of them. But most women are not like that, they would have done the damage before they start thinking of how to sort out the cost. And most times, it is their husbands they call to sort it out, that is for those who are married. Basically, there is always a cost to bringing somebody to Christ. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate cost on the Cross of Calvary. However, it will cost you time, it will cost you energy, it will cost us sleepless nights sometimes to bring people to Christ Jesus. Sometimes, it will cost you rejection, or money but there is always a cost. There is a cost to put together a service, people are sacrificing for that service to hold. It is your move. It is your time to sacrifice. The cause is worth the cost!

Luke 16:⁹ “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (NIV). You have to use your worldly wealth for eternal purposes because when you stop sacrificing, you actually stop living and you start regressing. I have seen this happen a lot of times. Some people started well, they were sacrificing, giving and God was increasing them. Then they stop sacrificing and pushing and regression sets in. That will not be your case in the Name of Jesus. “We work together as partners who belong to God.” [1 Cor.3:9, paraphrased]. Imagine the joy on the man’s face when Jesus said pick your mat and go home. The Bible says he jumped up, grabbed the mat, and walked through the crowd watching in amazement. How do you think he was, the man walking? I can almost see him bouncing.

Prayer: Father, I ask for the wisdom, capacity, and grace to pay the price required for the harvest of souls that You require of me, in Jesus Name. Amen!