"Friends Reach Instantly, Encouraging Never-ending Daily Service!" (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

February 12, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by Michael W. Smith called 'Friends' which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

Observations:
I asked myself what was happening as Jesus preached the Word to the crowds!

Observations/Interpretations
I asked myself the significance of each point?

Point 1: Some men came bringing to him a paralytic.
It is interesting to know that while Jesus was preaching the Word to the crowds some men came bringing to Him a paralytic. So many gathered that there was no room left, even outside the door for the paralytic to reach Jesus. This did not stop the men  from accomplishing their mission for the sake of the one they brought to Jesus. So the men devised a plan to help the paralytic.

Point 2: The paralytic was carried by four of them.
I believe even as they held the paralytic, they did not let the obstacles stop them from reaching Jesus.  So they came up with a blueprint of getting where they needed to be.

Point 3: They made an opening in the roof above Jesus.
The first step, they took was making an opening in the roof above Jesus. This is so significant because first of all it is not their house. They came probably to Simon and Andrew’s house and started making an opening in the roof for the sake of the paralytic.

Imagine you are in a packed room and there is no space for anyone else to come in.  Now imagine listening to Jesus preaching the Word to you and then suddenly there is a commotion. You believe it to be coming from the roof. (We need to realize roofs were not the same as we now have in cities.) Something else happens!

Point 4: They dug through it.     
You look up and to your amazement see four people digging through the roof, making dust fill the room, and making an opening. To your bafflement you see a paralytic on a stretcher being lowered down. Most of the roof started to crumble down as onlookers looked ahead. Now there is a huge rectangular hole that is visible. Into that hole, we see something come through.

What would your reaction be?
What would be going through your mind as you witness this happening?

Point 5: They lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
Now after all the work they went through, they lower the paralytic so Jesus can see him and heal him in front of the crowds. That was a bold step they took.

Observations:
I asked myself how Jesus reacted to the situation!
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5, NIV)

We see a cause-effect relationship here!

Because Jesus saw their faith, the result was Jesus spoke to the paralytic with these words, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Why is this so significant?
This is so significant because Jesus intervened after the intercession of the paralytics’ friends. Because of their faith, Jesus decided to speak to the paralytic.

All I can think about is how much agape love they must have had for their friend. They knew that Jesus could heal their friend and they were going to get to Jesus no matter what obstacles they were facing even if it meant facing ridicule as they tried to get through the roof. It was a mighty risk to have taken for their friend just so he could be taken to Jesus for healing.

Implications:
I saw this passage as an example of what true friendship could look like. If I say that I am somebody’s friend, I should put myself in a position to be there for them no matter what the obstacles. That is what the four men did for their friend and it paid of. Sadly, I have not always been that kind of friend and the Lord has brought it to my attention as I studied this passage! I depend on the Lord Jesus Christ to change with His Helping Hands.

I ask you now dear friend, what kind of friend are you?
Dear friend, there are friends who pretend to be friends and there are those who are real friends who would even die for you. It makes me so happy to realize that there are friends out there that do not mind risking their own lives for their friends. They do not let obstacles, inconveniences, or hindrances stop them from helping their friends. That is what the four men did for their friend and it paid of.

Don’t you want that?
When you call someone your friend, I hope you do not let obstacles, inconveniences; hindrances, danger, etc stop you from reaching out to that friend who may need help in anything. I hope I can be that type of friend.

I want to share with you the example of 4 friends who made such an impact in my life few years ago. I am proud to call them friends! They are not the only ones that have affected by life in a positive way but this situation became special for me.

At one point, I had such a bad semester because everything that could possibly go wrong at once seemed to go wrong. I had to move and was doing it on my own because I did not want to bother anyone for help. I was not even thinking straight!

I would take trips in the bus from Shadyside to Squirrel Hill or walk. I knew my friends were really busy with their classes and decided not to bother them.

I had gone to small group Bible study cell group every Monday night without missing it. One Monday, I missed it and my small group was concerned. They knew I must be overwhelmed with all the moving I was doing because they knew about it and had wanted to help. I had declined their offer for help before Monday!

As I was making my multiple trips back from Squirrel Hill to Shadyside, on one trip, I was shocked to see some of the students from the small group one-by-one.  

I did not recall ever telling them where I lived but they were on a mission and they found out. They were hiding to surprise me. They cancelled the small group Bible study cell group just so 4 of the core leaders in that cell group could come help me.

I still cannot believe it even to this day. I like to remember them as the 4 musketeers (Sara Witmer (now Sara Schuster), Jonathan Morton, David Black, and Joshua Steck). I do believe with the help of the 5th musketeer, Becky McMullen (now Becky Posh), roommate of Sara they figured out where I lived.

Before even then, one day when I had collapsed in the William Pitt Union, they had asked Abdou Cole, the Unit Manager of Schenley at the time to allow them to take me to their dorm! Sara was studying nursing and Becky was studying Occupational Therapy. They took me to their suite in McCormick Hall and nursed me that night by giving me their guest room!

Coming back to the apartment story, I feel embarrassed to write this part because my apartment was like it was ransacked and a cyclone whirled everything out of place. You would have needed to be a track-field athlete figuratively to jump from one place to another because there was stuff everywhere.

They asked me how they could help but I did not know where to start so I told them I really appreciate their help but they should go back to campus. They were not going to leave until my apartment was clean and I had a way to move all the stuff.

Sara decided that she could go back to campus and bring boxes but we found some in the storage. They took all the initiative, cleaned, and packed all my stuff for almost 3 hours that night even when they had school work for the next day and finals were on the horizon!

My roommate had moved most of his stuff out. When my four friends left, my roommate who was not a Christian came to me and said, "It was really nice of your friends to help you like that".

He wanted to know how I got to know them. I told him that they were from 'InterVarsity Christian Fellowship' of the Pitt chapter.

His reaction was, "No wonder, they seemed really nice and helpful" My friends had left an imprint of their Christian faith with my Chinese roommate without even speaking a word about the Gospel to him at the time.

The next day Josh asked his brother if he could bring his truck, even though he lived outside of Pittsburgh. This was so Josh and David could help me move all my stuff to Squirrel Hill, when his brother came.

Josh even sacrificed his class that day because he knew I had to be at work and they took two trips to help me move and then unload the stuff in Squirrel Hill. In all my life, I have not ever had friends like that who showed so much care. They made a Mission Impossible situation possible.

I am still honored to have known them as friends *hugs*.

 At that time, Sara served as President of InterVarsity, worship coordinator, prayer coordinator, outreach coordinator, and small group leader.

At that time, Jonathan served as Vice-President of InterVarsity, Large-group coordinator, and Administrative coordinator.

Joshua served on the Worship Team.

David served as small group leader, publicity coordinator, and Business Manager.

Becky had served as Vice-President before Jonathan took over.

Sometimes what our friends do for us can be a big deal depending on our need! I hope your friends can count on you for help when they need it. If you call yourself a friend of someone, I hope you can be there to help them no matter the inconvenience just as the four friends helped the paralytic and students from InterVarsity graciously offered unexpected help to me.

I do not know many of you personally but I want to offer my help in any area of your life that you need if I am capable. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need help in anything.

I am so excited that InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is again active at the University of Pittsburgh after all those years when they were here! IVCF meets Thursday nights! If you have not found a fellowship, I highly recommend checking IVCF out for at least a month before making a decision whether this is the fellowship the Lord wants you to be at. IVCF also has a Carnegie Mellon University chapter. If you want to get a glimpse of their worship time, you can check it out at http://www.pittsburghstandard.com under  MORE MULTIMEDIA!

Friends don’t always have to be outsiders. Our best friends can literally be within our own household. I know for me my mommy is my best friend at home.

Right now I am part of an Oakland International Fellowship cell group called 'Potter's Clay' that comes close to that InterVarsity cell group I was part of. We meet on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and would love to see each of you there.

OIF Potter's Clay cell group and OIF has been so helpful and supportive when my dad had a cardiac arrest in Oct 2007 and eventually went home to be with the Lord Jesus on December 17, 2007. They are still very supportive and helpful including the church itself which is the international congregation of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland located on N. Dithridge St. Many of my friends have been so supportive and helpful to during this time of sadness and hardship.

Regardless of home life, etc we all can have a Friend who no earthly friend can even come close to. He loves you as you are and wants to reach out to you where you are. His Name is Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus cared for the paralytic, He cares for you too. Yes, He does friend! You can come to Him as you are and receive His help. Jesus helps in many ways.

May you turn to the Lord who wants to be your best Friend everyday! Amen! He will reach you in your deepest needs.

"Friends Reach Instantly, Encouraging Never-ending Daily Service!"  (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)/"What kind of friend are you?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the greatest friend we can have. Your love for us is unconditional. Thank you for the friends you do send our path to put a smile on our face. Thank you how much you care for us. Thank you for your Word and how it changes people's lives. Thank you Lord that we can follow your example. Please Lord help us to be faithful to you and seek you always. Please help us to lay down our lives for our friends and be there to help them. Thank you so much Lord Jesus. Thank you for the small group you had blessed me to be part of.  We lift our lives to you and ask you to take care of us. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you that you want to be our Best friend. We are sorry for our sins and turn our lives to thee. Come Lord Jesus and fill us with your presence in our hearts today. Make our heart your home and preach to us Jesus. Please work in our lives. We thank you for covering us with your precious Blood to atone for our sin. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

 If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. Amen!!!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!