September 7, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." — Mark 2:4 · KJV

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked the door, but faith found a way to reach the Lord and set the palsied man before Him. If we cannot get sinners to where Jesus is by ordinary means, we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, from Luke's account, that some tiling had to be removed, which would raise dust and cause a little danger to those below; but where the case is urgent, we must not mind running some risk and upsetting some proprieties. Jesus was there to heal, and so, come what might, faith ventured all, that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven. Oh, that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow workers, and try today to do some gallant deed for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord? The world is constantly inventing; human genius serves every human desire — can faith not invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus that stirred victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man; is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen His face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt His healing power in our own souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, breaking through every obstacle, let us labor to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and fitting when faith and love are truly bent on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to think of ways to reach Your poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at any cost.