I have had many friends in my life.  Some have gone to fulfill life long aspirations, some have gone to be with the Lord, some, I just don't hear from any longer.  Many of my friends have lifted me from  sadness -- many have uncovered good parts of me which should show more often, and some have uncovered bad parts of my personality which

require change.  But, I have had many friends.  You are all among those ranks.  Some of you, I have never met -- and may never meet until we get to Heaven.  But, you are friends -- and I hope that sometime, in our relationship -- I let you down.

Please turn to Mark 2:1-12.   Verses 3-5 reflect the meaning of my last statement to you:  "And they came unto Him, bringing one sick.....who was borne by four.  And when they could not come close to Him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was;  and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed in which the sick .....lay.  When Jesus

saw their faith, He said unto the sick...'thy sins are forgiven thee'." 

(Mostly KJV, emphasis mine).

I pray that sometime in your lifetime, you will have (or be) the kind of friend who would take someone whom you knew to be sick (of spirit -- whether in the sin of the world or in deceit of a false cult) to the Lord Jesus for healing.  Share these messages, read the Bible for what you should say when you speak to them, and pray, pray, pray all the time for their healing.  Raze the roof!  Tear off the limitations which you think bar you from sharing Christ with that person and 'carry' them to Jesus. Lay them down right in front of Him and declare your desire for wholeness for them to the Lord.

You know, you won't be able to do any of this --  if your life is not right with Jesus.  Have you trusted Him as your Saviour?  Are you fellowshipping with Him DAILY, learning what He is like, reading about what He did when He was here, looking at His compassionate heart as He works in the Gospels?  Do you know Him?  If so, tear a rooftop off sharing Him with someone else.  Let your friends and family members

down-- show them the servant feet of the Saviour by serving them as a faithful friend.  Love them and don't expect anything from them.  Stop hitting your husbands with the same venomous words they throw at you.  Learn that your witness is much more important than your self esteem.  Do you have friends who have hurt you?  Go to them, tell them you are sorry, you miss them and you are praying for them.  I guarantee something.  They will either hug you in relief or they will be stirred (at first) to

anger.  Fine -- you have done your part -- you have forgiven -- now, let the anger stir in them -- after all, weren't they upset with you when you went to them?  Let it go -- you have done your part. 

Now, pray and pray more about their hearts -- knowing that the Almighty God is strong to save. (Psalm 71:3 and Isaiah 35:4)

Let a friend or family member down today.....at the feet of the  Saviour. Lead them if they are blind to your intentions, carry them, if they don't walk the same way you do, help them hear if they are deaf to the call. But, even if they are a bit agitated at you for sharing, know this:  you have stirred the spirit in them to seek the Spirit of God.  Stay on the path and be faithful -- no matter who you are carrying.

I know of friends who have let me down and prayed for my soul.  Because of them, I no longer lay around, paralyzed in fear.  I know the Lord, because they introduced me to Him -- and they practically tore the 'roof' off praying I would finally get there.

Won't you 'let someone down' today?

Ellen