Grace World Outreach Church
Day 20
Unity + Faith + Action =
Healing
By: Chris Fullam
“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’”
(Mark 2:4–5, NLT)
Years ago, I remember a night after youth service when a few friends and I pulled a prank on a buddy. He had this tiny car-truck thing, and while he was still inside a restaurant, about five of us went outside and lifted the entire car and turned it sideways between two other cars. When he came out, he was stuck there until someone got off work to move their vehicle. It took all of us working together to make it happen, and we all got a good laugh out of it, well, most of us anyway.
That little memory reminds me of the four friends in Mark 2. They were not playing a joke, but they did pull off something just as bold. They carried their paralyzed friend to see Jesus, but the house where they stayed was packed. There was no room inside or outside, and the crowd was too big. Still, they refused to quit. Instead, they climbed up onto the roof, tore it open, and lowered their friend down right in front of Jesus.
Scripture says Jesus saw their faith. Not the paralyzed man’s faith and not the crowd’s faith, but their faith. Their unity, their faith, and their action created a moment where heaven touched earth and a man walked home healed and forgiven.
That is the picture of the corporate altar. The Church is not just a group of individuals near Jesus; it is a family that carries people to Jesus. Each of the four had to hold up their corner of the mat. One person alone could not do it, but together, they did what no one could do by themselves.
When God’s people unite, faith multiplies and miracles happen.
Unity lifts.
Faith moves.
Action opens the roof.
This is what it means to be the Church. Sometimes your faith is what carries someone else. Sometimes someone else’s faith carries you. Either way, when we work together, Jesus still looks at His Church and says, “I see your faith.”
As we continue through these 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, let us decide that our house will be known for this kind of faith-in-action unity. Let us carry the hurting, the discouraged, and remove every obstacle that keeps people from encountering Jesus. Because when we do, healing happens in the house.
Reflection:
- Who in your life might need you to help carry their “mat” right now?
- Where do you see God calling you within the church to become part of a team and act together in unity and faith?
- This week, grab a “corner of the mat.” Find one practical way to partner with someone else to bring help or hope. Pray with someone, serve on a team, or reach out to someone far from God. Your unified faith and action may be the very thing that leads to their healing.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the power of unity and the strength of shared faith. Help me to carry, serve, and believe alongside others. May Grace World be a house where faith moves together and healing flows freely. Unite our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us act as one so that Your glory is revealed in Your house. In Jesus’ name, amen.