Words and Deeds

What God-given powers do you have?

And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town. 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." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ’stand up and walk'? 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." And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. - Matt. 9:1-8

When the people saw how Jesus cured the lame, they praised God for giving such power and authority to a human.

They did not see Jesus as a god.  They saw him as one of them, favored by God.

Why couldn't the scribes see him that way?

Instead of looking at the things Jesus did, they criticized him and sought to persecute him for what he said.

"Your sins are forgiven."

Today, we are all about saying the right things.  It is more important to talk the talk than it is to walk the walk.

Someone who says things that are unforgivable, but does marvelous good works, can be ridiculed and canceled.

If Jesus had said to teh man, "If you have faith, you can stand up and walk," would the man have been able to do it?

Or did the man need to be told his sins were forgiven?

If someone is sick and you tell them they are cured, they will want to believe you.  

Is it wrong to do that?

If we truly believe in the power of Christ, we should be able to say it with confidence, with no doubt whatsoever.

People will ridicule us and even say we are doing harm, but if we truly believe in the power of prayer, we should be able to say what we believe.

And the proof will be in the deeds.

More to come...