The Upper Room Devotional for 22nd January 2023
Welcome!!! The word of God is food to the spirit man. As you read The Upper Room Devotional Today, may the word of the Lord powerfully impact on you.
Today’s Topic: Two Types of People
Jim Weems (Mississippi, USA)
TODAY’S READING
Mark 2:1-5
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
With God’s help, I will not hesitate to help those in need.
The Upper Room Devotional for 22nd January 2023
They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. – Mark 2:4 (CEB)
Early in Jesus’ ministry, he was preaching at a home. A large crowd gathered to hear him, many of whom had been healed of sickness by Jesus in the weeks before. Now they and many others returned to hear him preach. It was so crowded that a group of people who brought a friend to be healed could not get anywhere near Jesus. So they climbed up to the roof of the house, cut a hole in it, and lowered their friend down to Jesus.
As I considered the story, it seemed to me that there were two types of people in the story. People who wouldn’t get out of the way so a man who needed Jesus could get to him and people who would do anything to get their friend to Jesus. Which one am I? I wondered. I thought of the times I noticed people that need Jesus — at work, on the street, friends, family. God doesn’t always ask us to cut a hole in the roof. Maybe we are called to offer a kind word, a meal, a listening ear, or sometimes just to get out of the way. Now when I come upon a need, I ask Jesus to open my eyes and my heart so that I am helping and not standing in the way.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, open our eyes to those in need around us so that we can offer help in your name. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS
To know when to get out of the way
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