Hurting Roofers
Hurting Roofers
Mark 2:4, “they uncovered the roof”
I just finished talking with a roofer who stopped by to find out if there are any jobs to be done. After the initial discussion we got on the topic of church as I saw his business card had the fish symbol on it. In a moment he unleashed tears with pain. He told of being a part of a large church that did not train him to use his gifts, as he thought. Now whether or not this happened is not the point of my devotional. The focus is the hurt that rushed out of his heart. For a man to cry before a stranger is unusual unless the heart is broken to the degree where normal etiquette and natural decorum are tossed aside and abandoned. Yes, his contention was either unsupportable or confirmed, but I did not know the facts. But one thing I did know was that he had a roof-sized hole in his heart and he needed Jesus. In his hurt his eyes were on others, not on Jesus.
People hurt, and often times because of their own weaknesses, decisions, or sins. But when I cannot change the situation, I simply must love and apply grace. As he spoke I thought of the 4 roofers in the Bible. They hurt so much for their friend that they took up the tile of the roof where Jesus was so that their concern and care could be addressed by the Healer. They lowered their hearts more than they did their friend. Jesus was touched by the body and soul of the five needy men. What I love is how Mark speaks of the roofers. He simply says, “And they came… (2:3) they removed the roof above Him… they made an opening… they let him down…” (2:4). “They” were never known. The roofers came, removed, made, let down, and had faith. And as Jesus saw their faith He forgave the paralytic’s sin. He specifically said, “their faith”. One sinful lame man was hurt but four sinful roofers brought him to Jesus.
“They” did not talk about sin, decisions, incriminations, or anything. “They” simply brought him, the sinful hurt man, to Jesus. “They” made an opening and lowered the man for whom “they” cared to the Man in whom “they” believed. Only that. Nothing more and of course, nothing less. But think of it. For the rest of their lives, till “they” breathed their last breath, “they” dreamed and remembered the day “they” made an opening for their lifelong friend. “They” laughed, drank, and cried with him night after day. As “they” watched him walk, run, stand, and sit, “they” smiled. God had used “they” [sic]. “They” were roofers.
I will make you a promise. God will bring to you those for whom you will be a roofer. Don’t let obstacles stop you. Make an opening to Jesus. And when you sit at night thinking over that day, laugh and live abundantly. Someone walks because you carried, lifted, opened, and lowered them. You were “they”. I hope by the time life is timeless you will be an expert roofer having opened many ways for friends to be lowered to the One loved most.
You may need to be destructive to be a roofer.
But better to make a mess than miss front roof seats to Jesus
Mark 2:4, “they uncovered the roof”
I just finished talking with a roofer who stopped by to find out if there are any jobs to be done. After the initial discussion we got on the topic of church as I saw his business card had the fish symbol on it. In a moment he unleashed tears with pain. He told of being a part of a large church that did not train him to use his gifts, as he thought. Now whether or not this happened is not the point of my devotional. The focus is the hurt that rushed out of his heart. For a man to cry before a stranger is unusual unless the heart is broken to the degree where normal etiquette and natural decorum are tossed aside and abandoned. Yes, his contention was either unsupportable or confirmed, but I did not know the facts. But one thing I did know was that he had a roof-sized hole in his heart and he needed Jesus. In his hurt his eyes were on others, not on Jesus.
People hurt, and often times because of their own weaknesses, decisions, or sins. But when I cannot change the situation, I simply must love and apply grace. As he spoke I thought of the 4 roofers in the Bible. They hurt so much for their friend that they took up the tile of the roof where Jesus was so that their concern and care could be addressed by the Healer. They lowered their hearts more than they did their friend. Jesus was touched by the body and soul of the five needy men. What I love is how Mark speaks of the roofers. He simply says, “And they came… (2:3) they removed the roof above Him… they made an opening… they let him down…” (2:4). “They” were never known. The roofers came, removed, made, let down, and had faith. And as Jesus saw their faith He forgave the paralytic’s sin. He specifically said, “their faith”. One sinful lame man was hurt but four sinful roofers brought him to Jesus.
“They” did not talk about sin, decisions, incriminations, or anything. “They” simply brought him, the sinful hurt man, to Jesus. “They” made an opening and lowered the man for whom “they” cared to the Man in whom “they” believed. Only that. Nothing more and of course, nothing less. But think of it. For the rest of their lives, till “they” breathed their last breath, “they” dreamed and remembered the day “they” made an opening for their lifelong friend. “They” laughed, drank, and cried with him night after day. As “they” watched him walk, run, stand, and sit, “they” smiled. God had used “they” [sic]. “They” were roofers.
I will make you a promise. God will bring to you those for whom you will be a roofer. Don’t let obstacles stop you. Make an opening to Jesus. And when you sit at night thinking over that day, laugh and live abundantly. Someone walks because you carried, lifted, opened, and lowered them. You were “they”. I hope by the time life is timeless you will be an expert roofer having opened many ways for friends to be lowered to the One loved most.
You may need to be destructive to be a roofer.
But better to make a mess than miss front roof seats to Jesus
posted by ipastorwill at 8:34 PM
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