Day 16: Four Corners

When I was in Haiti, Jeff (one of our fearless leaders) discussed the strength that comes with solid fellowship. He explained how having a core group of people with which you are accountable is like the story told in Mark when the paralytic is healed:

1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2: 1-5

Just as the paralytic is brought to the feet of Jesus by his friends, it is imperative that we have people who we know will bring us back to the Lord when we have strayed, or when we are sick like the paralytic in this story.

Then, Jeff asked us to do something crazy. He asked us to think of those people in our lives. So I thought to myself: who would hold the four corners of my mat?

And I drew a blank.

This is not to say that I didn't have people that I knew could do this, but I wasn't sure if we were on the same page about it. Do we know that we have to do this for each other?

And then, an even worse thought went through my mind. Could I be at the corner for any of my friends?

I mean, really, how could I expect people to hold my mat, when I can't do it for them?

This was eye-opening, and really captivated my thoughts. From that time on I decided to change, and I am determined to be that for my friends. I want to love my friends so much that I would carry a corner, so to speak, to bring them back to Jesus.

Returning from Haiti, I can boldly say that I found more than enough corner carriers just on my trip. I know the Lord provided me with five other women whose fellowship I can count on. And, He brought to light some friends from home that are that for me as well.

God is teaching me how important fellowship is, and through this story of the paralytic that is healed, He has enabled me to see how important it is to be real and transparent in fellowship, and to be honest with myself and my friends.

I want friends who will bring me to the feet of Jesus when I am off track, who will call me out in love when I stumble, and who will lower me through a roof when I am afflicted.

I praise and thank God for these wonderful people He has put into my life.  I know that I am in good hands.

And so I leave you with this:  what people are holding your mat for you?

In Christ,

Lilia