Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of Jesus’ action when Jesus said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."?

It is so interesting that even though the man is paralyzed, Jesus does not address his physical condition first but addresses his spiritual condition. This is evident by the statement, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus also gives the man identity by calling him ‘Son’. This makes me think that Jesus was letting him know that he wants the man to belong to him. It is possible that his physical condition may have been caused as a direct result of sin but we do not know. Sometimes things happen in our lives because we live in a sinful world and other times they happen as a direct result of our own sin.

I wondered what if the man's paralysis was caused by an accident that he was responsible for, where he may have been drunk and hit someone with the means of transportation he was using, granted it was not a motor vehicle, where someone died in the process and he got paralyzed.

What if he got into a fight and was paralyzed?

But, the paralysis is only the physical symptom he has to deal with. Now, what if he was dealing with a lot of guilt that even if his paralysis was cured, the guilt was eating him up on the inside.

Now, Jesus comes to him and calls him 'Son' making him feel worthy. Not only that but whatever guilt he was going through, Jesus wanted to address it first to restore him spiritually. Then, when he was restored spiritually, his physical healing could be dealt with. It is also possible by Jesus forgiving his sins, Jesus had healed him at that moment but the man did not know until he was able to pick up his mat, got up, and walked in view of them all.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
As Jesus focused on forgiving the man's sins, Jesus also is focused on forgiving me of my sin and setting me free from the bondage of guilt that is caused by sin. Jesus wants to free me from the paralysis of sin that could affect my physical condition. Just as Jesus was concerned about the man's spiritual condition first before even addressing his physical condition of paralysis, Jesus is also concerned about my spiritual condition. Thank you so much Jesus. Help me to always seek you!

 Jesus wants to get to the heart of the matter and addresses me where I am at. No matter how guilty I may feel about a situation, the Lord Jesus is there to forgive me and does not want me to be paralyzed. He wants me to live for Him and be set free. He wants to do the same for you.

I ask you now dear friend, how do you handle the areas of  P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S in your life?
Dear friend, paralysis is not always physical but it could also be spiritual or psychological. We can be feeling so guilty about something that we keep racking our minds on it to the point that we freeze ourselves from forgiving ourselves or accepting other people’s forgiveness. Most of all we don't want to accept the forgiveness Christ the Lord wants to offer each one of us because we condemn ourselves and think we are not worthy. Yes, we are not worthy because of sin but because of our unworthiness is why Jesus Christ came into this world, died for our sins on the cross shedding His precious cleansing blood, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to save. This is exciting to know friend.

Jesus does not want us to feel condemned forever and wants to free us from whatever guilt we are facing, for He already paid the price to set us free and we are never out of His love, never out of His reach. The hardest thing is forgiving self from the guilt. It will continue to be hard unless we turn to the One who came to forgive and give us freedom.

What I loved to do the most, I lost because of sin in my life which made me paralyzed in ministry for a long time until the Lord Jesus used Pastor Hugo Cheng of Oakland International Fellowship more than a decade ago to help me wrestle through the issues. When I think about what I lost because of sin, it is still painful BUT praise be to the Lord that I did not have to be paralyzed from ministry forever for the Lord Jesus has opened multiple doors since then. Even if no ministry door was open, just basking in His love and growing in Him gave me a sense of peace. 

I share this with you because our actions of sin can paralyze us to the point that we can be stuck in the yuckiness of guilt and the 'What If' syndrome to move on.

But, the 'What If's and guilt' will keep you from attaining what the Lord Jesus has in store for you and me. Lord Jesus does not want you and me to be paralyzed in our guilt because of our mistakes but wants us to find total freedom in Him. He wants you and me to find our identity in Him friend! Yes, He does!

You may never get back what you lost because of your sin but that is okay because when you are trusting in the Lord and seeking to please Him, He will direct your path and crown your efforts with success. More than that instead of the guilt of paralysis, you will experience the peace of wholeness in Christ and Christ alone. Thank you Jesus for "there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus for the power of the life giving Spirit frees us from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1)

Yes, the Holy Spirit frees us from the law of sin and death friend. Jesus will bring healing for you from the paralysis of guilt as you turn to Him and receive His forgiveness. What occurred may not be changeable and God knows that. He still forgives you and wants you to pick up your mat and go home.

The paralyzed man was stuck to the mat just as guilt maybe sticking to you. With Jesus’ help the man separated himself from the mat and you can separate yourself from the guilt and go home. Home is usually a place of shelter and the Lord wants to give you shelter from this paralysis.

Guilt is the worst thing a person can face because their mind is surrounded with 'What if's'. Jesus does not want you and me to live in the 'What if' world. Whatever has happened, happened and if we cannot change it, we need to still move on. Our Lord wants us to move on from the guilt that plagues us. At the Cross, He paid the price for you and me. Yes, He did friend. Jesus restores you where you are.

Whatever you have done or said, take it to the Lord in prayer and rest in Him. He is a God of restoration and takes away the paralysis of guilt. Yes, He does friend! Oh yes, He does! I can speak from experience. The key is depending on Him and waiting on the Lord. If you are able to bring restoration in the lives of people that you have hurt, you should do that as you seek the Lord.

Maybe guilt is not what paralyses you but it could be fear. You can be so fearful of something because of what happened to you in the past that you are paralyzed by fear. The Lord Jesus does not want that for you too. He wants you to know that ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind’. The type of fear that paralyses is from the devil and Jesus is here to free you from that fear. No matter what fear you are facing, please take it to the Lord in prayer. He loves you so much. Yes, He does. You are never out of His love; you are never out of His reach.

Whatever paralyzes you, you know about it. It could be interfering with your daily activities and what you need to do. You don’t have to lose hope. The paralytic took the help from the men who carried him. There are times we need to be carried to Jesus with the baggage we have. So depend on the community, the Lord Jesus has placed in your life. I had to do that as multiple pastors through the years (Pastor Andrew Gill, Pastor Thinagar Sitther, Pastor Ed, Pastor Bucknell, Pastor Hugo, Pastor Mike) helped me in multiple stages culminating and continuing with Pastor Josh's help. The Lord has also used Edwin and Calvin to help me in different areas. Thank you Jesus! There are times Jesus Himself carries us! It is wonderful to know there are those out there who want to help people through their paralysis whether it is physical, spiritual, or psychological. Take the help that comes your way and know Jesus wants to be your Great Physician.

Most of all know that sin is the great paralyzer in your life! Until you deal with the bondage of sin in your life, you will be paralyzed daily. The only solution to sin is Jesus Christ.

Sin is crouching at your door and you need to master it, otherwise it will master you!

Come to Jesus Christ and ask Him to deliver you from the bondage of sin and death so you can have new life in Christ. Jesus offers this new life to you not because of anything you have done or will do to merit His grace but because of His unconditional love and grace He wants to shower up you through His love. Yes, friend so come as you are to the throne of grace and find help in time of need.

Listen to the song, 'Seventy Times Seven' by David Meece and take the words to heart.

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to take the forgiveness Christ offers so I can be freed from the paralysis of guilt caused by different sins I have committed.

"Paralyzed?, Always Remember Almighty Lord Your Savior In Situations!" (P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S)/"How do you handle the areas of P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S in your life?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for interceding on our behalf. You love us so much that you died for our sins and came back to life to save us. Lord, you know the paralysis each of us face in our own lives, you know what hinders us from moving on, picking up our mat and going on in life. More than anything, it is sin Oh Lord. It is sin that captivates and paralyzes us but we know you are there to help us. So Jesus, come and please help us to overcome things that paralyze us. Help us to receive the help you offer and not be so individualistic. Please take our guilt, fear, or whatever we face and cover us with your loving presence please. And Jesus there are those that are physically paralyzed that need your loving touch and help in their lives. Please help them in all they need to do. Give them strength to endure and bring your healing in their lives please Jesus. Thank you Jesus we are never out of your love and never out of your reach no matter where we have been. Thank you we can talk to you for you are our Great Physician. We turn our lives over to thee and ask thee for your loving healing grace to engulf us. Thank you for your cleansing blood to heal us. Thank you Jesus for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!