One of the most insidious side effects of sin is the weight that it brings. Guilt. Condemnation. Self-recrimination. They are crippling. They are an unseen burden that can eventually bring to an end all progress and growth, leaving us paralyzed even as we walk through the motions of life. We go to work. We fellowship with the church. We read our Bible everyday. But they are empty motions, taking us from place to place but never actually going anywhere.
Luke 5:24 [NKJV]
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins — He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.
Just as Christ was making a point to the religious leaders of that time in this passage, He is making a point to you and me. The weight of unforgiven sin had paralyzed that man. He blended in with the world around him. On the outside, his situation was bad, but on the inside it was debilitating ... and no one seemed to care.
Well ... One cared.
Jesus, who sees past all of our acts of kindness and acts of cruelty, sees past this man's paralysis. He sees the broken heart. He sees the scars left by years of sin. He sees the elected creation, crying out for forgiveness.
The Lord is speaking today to you and to me.
He says, Arise!
Your sins are forgiven you.
No more shall you be crippled by sin.
By My grace, you shall be holy ... as I am holy. .
Be encouraged, Jose
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