I was reading that passage in Luke today about the friends who carried the paralyzed person to Jesus because he could not get there himself and something really struck me about those words in the Bible today. Jesus looked at this sick paralyzed man and healed him because of his friends faith. Not because of the paralyzed man's faith or lack there of--we don't really know, but because of the faith of his friends.

I think this is one of the amazing parts of being a Christian. If others have faith and bring those who are hurting to Jesus in prayer, then Jesus will be moved to heal. Healing is not always as instant as this man who takes up his mat and walks out, but healing does come. And it takes the faith of others to allow it to happen.

There are many many people who are hurting physically, mentally and spiritually. They are all around us everyday. Sometimes we see them, and sometimes they pass us by un-noticed by our eyes and our ears and our spirits. Some refuse to acknowledge them either out of ignorance or lack of compassion or being too busy or being too into themselves and their problems, etc.

But we are called to look for them, listen for their cries and let the Spirit within us point them out to us. And then take them to Jesus for healing. A simple prayer is all it takes for the Lord to move. A simple prayer caused a paralyzed man to get up and walk.

Do we have the faith within us to do it? Can we stand up for others, carry others, pray for others, and then let God?

God's challenge to us as Christians is to see the pain, feel the hurt, listen to the cries, walk with these people, and take them to Jesus.

So let's just do it. And in doing it, Jesus will change their world.