Striving To Be On the Roof…and Then Some

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
And you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
In your light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
And your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5-10

This psalm writer uses vivid imagery to describe God’s great steadfast love. To explain God’s love and faithfulness to the vast degree it is may be difficult, but we can try to do so to others – hoping the Holy Spirit will allow them to hear and receive what’s shared so they see their desperate need for a Savior!

I keep focusing on the verse that says, “Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you…” and my heart is burdened for those who may not know God and may not know all the riches that are found in having a relationship with Him.  (We, as believers “feast on the abundance of your house,” Lord.)  Some of these riches are: peace, love, forgiveness, protection, guidance, abundant and eternal life with Him, comfort, blessings, and the Holy Spirit!  I hope you have a deep longing to be near Jesus.  If you are already a believer, get on your heart/mind someone who may not have that same longing as you finish reading this piece.  Are you burdened for someone?  Are you willing to go “to the roof?”

In Mark 2, friends of a paralytic man wanted to get their friend near Jesus so he would be healed.

And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven…I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home’

Mark 2:2-5, 11

And he did! *Read Mark 2:1-12 for the complete account.

Friends, for some of you to be near Jesus, it‘s as easy as crying out to God asking for forgiveness of sins and asking Him to come into your heart to transform your life and reign as King and Lord!  In the account in Mark, friends were willing to remove a roof for their friend to be near Jesus!  Are you willing to “get on the roof” for your friends?  (Are we sharing how God changed us and sharing with others how their lives can be changed because of Jesus?)

If your relationship with Jesus was described as a metaphor of a three-story house, are you “on the roof?”

THE HOUSE:
1st floor: You’ve prayed and asked Jesus to come into your life and heart as you believe, confess and repent of your sins, and you know Jesus as Savior and Lord. You have the Holy Spirit inside of you.
2nd floor: You are continuing to pray in your relationship with the Lord. You’re reading and studying God’s Word to let your heart be saturated with His Word.
3rd floor-You’re still covering those things on the first and second floors, AND you’re going to church to fellowship, encourage, and grow and learn with other believers.
Rooftop: You’re covering all that is in the first 3 floors and sharing with others about Jesus and what He’s doing in your life.
Rooftop with a megaphone: You’re encouraging others to share about God’s steadfast love – where they are and across the world!

I hope as Christians we desire to do more for Jesus! If we are changed, we cannot be silent or do nothing. If we are changed, let us proclaim it, and encourage other believers to do so!

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Dear Lord, help us all to be “rooftop” Christians and then some—only by Your power and only because of Your great love. Give us what we need Lord each day.  We love You, and we praise You.  We need You and so do those around us.  Empower us to share of Your love with people in the ways and places you set before us.  In Jesus’ precious Name we pray.  Amen.

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