One Thing Leads to Another

Scripture:

“Pareho Kamo Sang Mga Karnero Nga Akon Ginapadala Sa Mapintas Nga Mga Sapat”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 10:16-23)

“Tandai ninyo ini! Pareho kamo sang mga karnero nga akon ginapadala sa mapintas nga mga sapat. Gani magmaalam kamo pareho sang mga man-og, pero dapat pareho man kamo sang mga pating nga wala nagahimo sang malain.

Mag-andam kamo sa ila, kay pagadakpon nila kamo kag dalhon sa mga hukmanan kag pagahanuton nila kamo sa ila mga simbahan.

Iakusar nila kamo sa mga gobernador kag mga hari tungod sang inyo pagsunod sa akon, kag didto magasugid kamo sang Maayong Balita sa ila upod sa ila mga tinawo nga indi Judio.

Kon imbistigaron na kamo, indi kamo magpalibog kon ano ang inyo ihambal, kag kon paano kamo magsabat. Kay kon kamo didto na, ang Espiritu Santo amo ang magatudlo sa inyo kon ano ang inyo isabat.

Gani ang inyo ihambal indi inyo kundi iya sang Espiritu nga halin sa inyo Amay. Siya ang magahambal paagi sa inyo.

“ Sa sina nga mga inadlaw may mga tawo nga magapapatay sang ila mga utod. May mga amay nga magapapatay sang ila mga anak. Kag may mga anak nga magakontra sa ila mga ginikanan, kag ipapatay nila sila.

Dumtan kamo sang tanan tungod nga kamo akon mga sumulunod. Pero ang nagapadayon sa pagsunod sa akon hasta sa katapusan amo ang maluwas.

Kon hingabuton kamo sa isa ka banwa, magpalagyo kamo pakadto sa isa ka banwa. Kay sa pagkamatuod, sa wala pa ninyo malibot ang tanan nga mga banwa sang Israel, ako nga Anak sang Tawo magabalik.

***

Meditation:

What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be sheep in the midst of wolves? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the gospel. Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world’s way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord Jesus commissions us in his service. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master  who laid down his life for us. Are you willing to accept hardship and suffering in following after the Lord?

“Lord Jesus, help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will”.

“Nakabaton Kamo Sa Dios Nga Wala Sing Bayad, Gani Maghatag Man Kamo Nga Wala Sing Bayad”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 10:7-15)

Ibantala ninyo sa ila nga tion na ini nga ang Dios magahari sa mga tawo.

Ayuha ninyo ang mga masakiton, banhawa ninyo ang mga patay, ayuha ninyo ang mga aruon, kag tabuga ninyo ang malaot nga mga espiritu. Nakabaton kamo sa Dios nga wala sing bayad, gani maghatag man kamo nga wala sing bayad.

Indi kamo magbalon sing kuwarta, ukon bag, ukon ilislan nga bayo, ukon sandalyas, ukon baston, kay ang nagapangabudlay dapat gid man nga hatagan sang iya mga kinahanglanon.

“Kon magsulod kamo sa isa ka banwa ukon sa isa ka baryo, magpangita kamo sang tawo nga maalwan nga magbaton sa inyo. Kag didto kamo magdayon hasta maghalin kamo sa sina nga lugar.

Sa inyo pagsulod sa balay nga magabaton sa inyo, bendisyunan ninyo ang mga nagaestar didto.

Kon ang panimalay nga ina maayo nga mga tawo, bendisyuni ninyo sila, pero kon indi, indi ninyo pagbendisyuni.

Kon may mga panimalay ukon banwa nga indi gid magbaton sa inyo ukon indi gid magpamati sa inyo ginasiling, bayai na lang ninyo sila. Paghalin ninyo, taktaka ninyo ang yab-ok sa inyo tiil bilang paandam batok sa ila.

Sa pagkamatuod, ang silot nga ila pagabatunon sa Adlaw sang Paghukom labaw pa sa silot nga mabaton sang mga taga-Sodoma kag mga taga-Gomora.”

***

Meditation:

Jesus gave his disciples a two-fold commission: to speak in his name and to act with his power. The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who freely submit to God and who honor him as their Lord and King. In the Lord’s prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus also commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did – bringing the healing power of God to the weary and oppressed. The gospel has power to set people free from sin, sickness, fear, and oppression. The Lord will free us from anything that keeps us from loving him and our neighbor with joy and confidence.

Jesus said to his disciples: Freely you have received, freely give. What they have received from Jesus they must now pass on to others without expecting a favor in return, whether it be in form of a gift or payment. They must show by their attitude that their first interest is in serving God, not receiving material gain. They must serve without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must  travel light – only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them – in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or reward.  “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision.  The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.

Secondly, Jesus said: the worker deserves his sustenance. Here we see a double-truth: the worker of God must not be overly-concerned with material things, but the people of God must never fail in their duty to give the worker of God what he or she needs to sustain themselves in the Lord’s service. Do you pray for the work of the gospel and do you support it with your material and financial resources? Jesus ends his instructions with a warning: If people reject God’s invitation and refuse his word, then they bring judgment and condemnation on themselves. When God gives us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond.  Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond to his word. God gives us his word that we may have life – abundant life – in him.  He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the gospel by word and example to those around you?

“Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.”

“Ginhatagan Ni Jesus Sila Sing Gahom Sa Pagtabog Sang Malaot Nga Mga Espiritu”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 10:1-7)

Gintawag ni Jesus ang iya dose ka mga sumulunod kag ginhatagan niya sila sing gahom sa pagtabog sang malaot nga mga espiritu. Ginhatagan man niya sila sang gahom sa pag-ayo sang bisan ano nga klase sang balatian.

Amo ini ang ngalan sang dose ka mga apostoles: si Simon (nga ginatawag Pedro) nga amo ang nagapanguna sa ila, si Andres nga iya utod, ang duha ka mga anak ni Zebedeo nga si Santiago kag si Juan, si Felipe, si Bartolome, si Tomas kag si Mateo (nga manugsukot sang buhis), si Santiago nga anak ni Alfeo, si Tadeo, si Simon (nga rebelde anay sa gobyerno sang Roma), kag si Judas Iscariote nga amo ang nagluib kay Jesus.

Sa wala pa mapalakat ni Jesus ang dose ka apostoles ginsilingan niya sila, “Indi kamo magkadto sa mga lugar sang mga indi Judio ukon sa mga banwa sang Samaria, kundi kadtui ninyo ang mga kaliwat ni Israel. Kaangay sila sang mga karnero nga nagtalang.

Ibantala ninyo sa ila nga tion na ini nga ang Dios magahari sa mga tawo.

***

Meditation:

Do you know and experience in your life the power of the gospel? The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who submit to God and who honor him as their King and Lord. In the Lord’s prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus’ preaching of God’s kingdom was accompanied by signs and wonders. People were healed not only spiritually, but physically as well. Jesus’ words are just as relevant today, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. We cannot buy heaven; but those who know the love and mercy of Jesus already possess heaven in their hearts! Do you believe in the power of God’s kingdom?

Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did – to speak God’s word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God’s work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through you for his glory?

“Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name.”

“Halin Pa Sang Una Wala Kita Sing May Nakita Kaangay Sini Sa Bug-os Nga Israel”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 9:32-38)

Sang nagapauli na sila, may gindala kay Jesus nga apa tungod kay ginagamhan siya sang malaot nga espiritu.

Pagkatapos nga napaguwa ni Jesus ang malaot nga espiritu, nakahambal gilayon ang apa. Natingala gid ang mga tawo. Nagsiling sila, “Halin pa sang una wala kita sing may nakita kaangay sini sa bug-os nga Israel.”

Pero nagsiling ang mga Pariseo, “Ang pangulo sang malaot nga mga espiritu amo ang naghatag sa iya sang gahom agod matabog niya ang malaot nga mga espiritu.”

Naglibot si Jesus sa mga banwa kag mga baryo, kag nagpanudlo siya sa mga simbahan sang mga Judio. Ginwali niya ang Maayong Balita parte sa paghari sang Dios, kag ginpang-ayo niya ang mga tawo nga may nagkalain-lain nga mga balatian.

Pagkakita niya sa madamo nga mga tawo, naluoy gid siya sa ila tungod nga madamo ang ila mga palaligban pero wala sing may nagabulig sa ila. Kaangay sila sang mga karnero nga wala sing manugbantay.

Gani nagsiling siya sa iya mga sumulunod, “Malapad ang alanihon, pero diutay gid lang ang manug-ani.

Gani magpangamuyo kamo sa Ginoo nga magpadala siya sang mga manug-ani sa iya alanihon.” mga tawo nga naaman sa pagbaton sang Maayong Balita. Kaangay sila sang alanihon nga husto na gid anihon.

***

Meditation:

What help or hope can we give to someone who experiences chronic distress or some incurable disease of mind or body? Spiritual, emotional, and physical suffering often go hand in hand. Jesus was well acquanited with individuals who suffered intolerable affliction – whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. A “dumb demoniac” was brought to Jesus by his friends with the hope that Jesus would set the troubled man free. These neighbors, no doubt, took pity on this man who had a double impediment. He had not only lost his ability to speak, but was also greatly disturbed in mind and spirit. This was no doubt due to the influence of evil spirits who tormented him day and night with thoughts of despair and hopeless abandonment by God. Jesus immediately set him free from the demon who tormented him and restored his ability to speak at the same time. This double miracle brought wonder to the crowds who watched in amazement. “Nothing like this had ever been done before in the land of Israel!” Whenever people approached Jesus with expectant faith, he set them free from whatever afflicted them – whether it be a disease of mind and body, a cripling burden of guilt and sin, a tormenting spirit or uncontrolable fear of harm.

How could Jesus’ miracles cause both scorn and wonder at the same time from those who professed faith in God? Don’t we often encounter the same reaction today, even in ourselves! The crowds looked with awe at the wonderful works which Jesus did, but the religious leaders attributed this same work to the power of the devil. They disbelieved because they refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Their idea of religion was too narrow and closed to accept Jesus as the Anointed One sent by the Father “to set the captives free” (Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 11:5). They were too set in their own ways to change and they were too proud to submit to Jesus. They held too rigidly to the observances of their ritual laws while neglecting the more important duties of love of God and love of neighbor. The people, as a result, were spiritually adrift and hungry for God. Jesus met their need and gave them new faith and hope in God’s saving help. Whenever the gospel is proclaimed God’s kingdom is made manifest and new life and freedom is given to those who respond with faith. The Lord grants freedom to all who turn to him with trust. Do you bring your troubles to the Lord with expectant faith that he can set you free? The Lord invites us to pray that the work of  the gospel may spread throughout the world, so that all may find true joy and freedom in Jesus Christ.

“Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come to all who are oppressed and in darkness. Fill my heart with compassion for all who suffer mentally and physically. Use me to bring the good news of your saving grace and mercy to those around me who need your healing love and forgiveness.”

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! What does it mean to give praise to the Lord? It means to praise God for who He is and for what He does.

We can praise God for He is the creator of the universe. He is good, and loving, and kind. His very nature is love. He is all powerful and He rules over all the universe. He is just and fair in all His dealings. You can praise God for who He is each and every day.

We can also praise God for what He has done in our lives. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. God forgives our sins when we accept Christ as our Savior. He provides food for us and blesses us with His love. Every good blessing in your life comes directly or indirectly from God’s hand. He has given us the promise of heaven — of eternal life — when we ask Christ to be our Savior. Truly God is good and we can praise Him every day for what He is doing in our lives.

The Bible says to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” We are to praise the Lord at all times. Sometimes life may seem dark, and your problems may be very great. Yet even in the midst of difficult times, we can praise God for who He is — and for the gift of Jesus Christ — and for the good things He has provided for us — and for the promise of heaven.

So, this week, let us pray and

• Thank God for all His goodness to us
• Praise God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for us

THANK YOU so much as you join with us in prayer. We are seeing God answer our prayers as we see many people come to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. May God bless you as you seek Him.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” Psalm 136:1

“Magkalipay Ka, Ang Imo Pagtuo Sa Akon Nag-ayo Sa Imo”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 9:18-26)

Samtang nagahambal pa si Jesus, nag-abot ang isa ka manugdumala sang simbahan sang mga Judio. Nagluhod siya kay Jesus kag nagpakitluoy nga nagasiling, “Ang akon anak nga babayi bag-o gid lang mapatay, pero kon kadtuan mo siya kag itungtong mo ang imo kamot sa iya, nagatuo ako nga mabuhi siya liwat.”

Gani nagtindog si Jesus kag nag-upod sa iya. Nag-upod man ang mga sumulunod ni Jesus.

Samtang nagalakat sila, may babayi nga nagpalapit sa likod ni Jesus. Yadto nga babayi ginapangguwaan sang dugo sa sulod sang dose ka tuig. Naghunahuna siya nga kon makatandog lang siya sa bayo ni Jesus magaayo gid siya. Gani gintandog niya ang punta sang bayo ni Jesus.

Nagliso dayon si Jesus kag pagkakita niya sa babayi nagsiling siya, “Anak, magkalipay ka! Ang imo pagtuo sa akon nag-ayo sa imo.” Sa gilayon nag-ayo siya.

Nagpadayon si Jesus sa balay sang manugdumala. Sang pagsulod niya, nakita niya nga didto ang mga musikero para sa lubong kag ang mga tawo nga nagaginahod.

Gani nagsiling siya sa mga tawo, “Guwa kamo anay! Kay indi patay ang bata kundi nagakatulog lang.” Ginkadlawan nila si Jesus.

Sang ginpaguwa na ang mga tawo, nagsulod dayon si Jesus sa kuwarto sang bata. Gin-uyatan niya ang kamot sang bata kag nagbangon ini.

Kag ang balita parte sini naglapnag sa tanan nga mga banwa sa palibot.

***

Meditation:

Do you take your troubles to the Lord with expectant faith and confidence in his help? People in desperate or helpless circumstances were not disappointed when they sought Jesus out. What drew them to Jesus? Was it hope for a miracle or a word of comfort in their affliction? What did the elderly woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years expect Jesus to do for her? And what did a grieving father expect Jesus to do about his lost beloved daughter? Jesus gave hope where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!). And he also gave divine hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child. It took considerable courage and risk for the ruler of a synagogue to openly go to Jesus and to invite the scorn of his neighbors and kin.  Even the hired mourners laughed at him in scorn. Their grief was devoid of any hope. Nonetheless, Jesus took the girl by the hand and delivered her from the grasp of death. In both instances we see Jesus’ personal concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal and restore life.

In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each  person he meets. Do you approach the Lord with confident expectation that he will hear your request and act?

“Lord Jesus, you love each of us individually with a unique and personal love. Touch my life with your saving power, heal and restore me to fullness of life. Help me to give wholly of myself in loving service to others.”

Don’t Forget Your Umbrella

Scripture: He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:5-6

You may be wondering why I would be carrying my umbrella to church this morning. After all,there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Perhaps you thought I brought my umbrella to shade me from the hot sun. No, that isn’t the reason. I am carrying my umbrella because we need rain and I am going to pray and ask God to send rain. How many of you believe that God has the power to make it rain?

Well, I got to thinking about that and I thought to myself, “We say that we believe God can make it rain, but we pray for rain and we don’t even carry our umbrella with us.” It doesn’t seem to me that we really believe that God has the power to make it rain if we don’t have enough faith to carry an umbrella.

Did you know that our lack of faith can limit the power of God? That’s what the Bible says.

One time Jesus was in his hometown. When the Sabbath came, he was teaching in the synagogue. Many of the people who heard Jesus’ teaching started to criticize him. “Who does he think he is? And where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Don’t his sisters live right here in the same town with us?”

Jesus heard them criticizing him and he said to them, “A prophet has little honor in his own home town among his friends and relatives.” The Bible tells us that because of their lack of faith, Jesus was powerless do any miracles there, except to heal a few sick people.

Jesus once told his disciples, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22) So, if you really believe that God has the power to make it rain, the next time you pray to God and ask him to make it rain, don’t forget your umbrella!

Prayer: Father, we say we believe, but sometimes our actions don’t show it. Help us to show our faith by our actions. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“Kon Indi Ko Makita Ang Agi Sang Mga Lansang Sa Iya Mga Kamot, Indi Gid Ako Magpati”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Juan 20:24-29)

Si Tomas nga ginatawag nga si Kapid, nga isa man sa mga dose ka sumulunod ni Jesus, wala didto sang pag-abot ni Jesus.

Gani ginsugiran siya sang iya kaupod nga mga sumulunod nga nakita nila ang Ginoo. Pero nagsiling si Tomas sa ila, “Kon indi ko makita ang agi sang mga lansang sa iya mga kamot, kag kon indi ko matandog ang iya mga pilas, kag kon indi ko magulo ang akon kamot sa iya kilid, indi gid ako magpati.”

Pagkaligad sang isa ka semana, nagtilipon liwat ang mga sumulunod ni Jesus sa balay nga ila ginatipunan, kag kaupod na nila si Tomas. Gintrangkahan nila ang mga puwertahan sang balay, pero nagsulod liwat si Jesus kag nagtindog didto sa ila tunga. Nagsiling siya sa ila, “Kabay pa nga ang kalinong yara sa inyo.”

Dayon nagsiling siya kay Tomas, “Tomas, dali, tan-awa ang akon mga kamot kag tanduga ang akon pilas. Igulo man dayon ang imo kamot sa akon kilid. Indi ka na magpangduha-duha, kundi magtuo ka na.”

Nagsiling si Tomas kay Jesus, “Ginoo ko kag Dios ko!”

Nagsiling dayon si Jesus sa iya, “Ti nagatuo ka na karon kay nakita mo na ako? Pero bulahan ang mga tawo nga nagatuo sa akon bisan wala nila ako makita.”

***

Meditation:

What gives us unshakeable hope and confidence in the face of death and defeat? The apostles abandoned Jesus in his hour of trial and lost hope when Jesus was handed over to the Romans for execution. They saw the cross as defeat rather than victory. They were slow to believe the reports of the resurrection until the Risen Lord appeared to them and reassured them of his presence and love.

The  last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion. After Jesus’ death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles. When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God!

Through the gift of faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God’s word and in the power of the Holy Spirit?

“Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection.”

“Ngaa Bala Malain Ang Inyo Ginahunahuna?”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 9:1-8)

Gani nagsakay si Jesus kag ang iya kaupdanan sa sakayan pabalik sa tabok sang linaw. Pag-abot nila didto nagpauli dayon si Jesus sa iya banwa.

Sang didto na siya, may mga tawo nga nag-abot nga nagatuwang sang tawo nga paralitiko. Pagkakita ni Jesus nga dako ang ila pagtuo sa iya, nagsiling siya sa paralitiko, “Indi ka magkahadlok, kay ang imo mga sala ginpatawad na!”

Karon, may mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan didto nga nakabati, gani nagsiling sila sa ila kaugalingon, “Ang ginahambal sini nga tawo kontra sa Dios.”

Nahibaluan ni Jesus kon ano ang ila ginahunahuna, gani nagsiling siya sa ila, “Ngaa bala malain ang inyo ginahunahuna?

Diin bala ang mas mahapos, ang magsiling, ‘Ginpatawad na ang imo mga sala,’ ukon ang magsiling, ‘Magtindog ka kag maglakat’?

Karon pamatud-an ko sa inyo paagi sa pag-ayo sa sini nga paralitiko nga ako nga Anak sang Tawo may gahom diri sa duta sa pagpatawad sang mga sala.” Dayon nagsiling siya sa paralitiko, “Magtindog ka, dal-a ang imo hiligdaan kag magpauli.”

Nagbangon dayon ang paralitiko kag nagpauli.

Pagkakita sadto sang mga tawo hinadlukan sila, kag gindayaw nila ang Dios kay naghatag siya sa mga tawo sang gahom nga kaangay sadto.

***

Meditation:

What cripples the mind and heart and stiffles the healing power of love? Sin and unforgiveness for certain! Sin cripples us more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus’ forgiveness. Jesus’ treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends, Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God’s redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well.

The Lord is every ready to bring us healing of mind, body, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus’ healing power?

“Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, mind, and soul. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life – my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and goodness.”