Faith-Filled Friends Who Go the Extra Mile
ICS Daily Devotions
Luke 5:18-20 (NKJV) Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralysed, 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.
The paralysed man in the passage had four great friends who were a great encouragement to him. If they hadn’t all agreed, it would have been an impossible task to carry him in spite of the crowd. Most people would have given up hope of being restored to health, but these four friends of the paralysed man showed not only exceptional character but also faith in God.
Not many people have the patience and time for someone who is paralysed, nor will every paralysed person have that kind of faith to reach out to Jesus after being in that condition for a prolonged period. It is normal for someone to feel sorry for themselves, moody and hopeless when they are paralysed. It can sap our energy too when we spend time with others who have great emotional and physical needs, especially those with mood swings because they have just experienced trauma in their lives.
Although we may not have friends who are paralysed, we will likely have friends who are down, bumped out, experiencing the blues, and struggling with hopelessness. Most of us would have felt beaten down by life’s circumstances too.
Beth Jones says in her book Up: Writing a New Chapter of Joy and Laughter, “It’s amazing how the right person at the right time can be used of God to comfort, encourage, refresh and cheer us up from the place of depression”.
The four friends in the passage were the right friends at the right time. We also need friends like the four friends in the opening passage—just a small circle of trusted and faith-filled friends who genuinely love and care for us. Meanwhile, we should also be a faith-filled friend who can be a blessing to others who are down and beaten up in life.
Not everyone has the heart or the know-how to befriend someone who is paralysed or in need. Somehow, we have lost the art of communication, or simply do not know how to relate to people, because we are too engrossed with our phones and gadgets. Therefore, we should slow down and show love towards those around us. When we notice a need in them, we can invest time in caring for and loving them with our words and actions.
Reflection: Who in your life may be feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or hopeless and needs your encouragement today? How can you become a faithful friend who goes the extra mile to bring them closer to Jesus?
Sermon Series: 2026 CG Campaign – Up! (Part 4)
