What We Need - The One Year At His Feet Devotional
What We Need
Read: Luke 5:17-26
“Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:20
“Christ comes with a blessing in each hand; forgiveness in one, holiness in the other.”
—A. W. Pink
IN WORD One of the greatest things a Christian can do for encouragement is to meditate on this verse. Many of us tend to beat ourselves up for our sins. We are right to take sin so seriously. When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we are not right in our relationship with God, we should immediately confess, repent, and accept forgiveness. But this last step is difficult for many. The thought of grieving and offending the eternal, sovereign Lord is hard to swallow.
To those who mourn over their sinfulness, Jesus speaks these words: “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Friend of sinners always has words of comfort for those who know the gravity of sin. He did not come into the world to condemn but to save (John 3:17). Why would we think He might be unwilling to forgive us? These words address our greatest need.
The paralytic in this passage came for another reason. Likewise, many Christians also think they have a more urgent need than their sinfulness. To these, Jesus’ words also address the greatest need. They remind us of God’s priority for us—rescuing us from our subtle but serious danger.
IN DEED Wherever we are, this verse redirects us. Whether we come to Jesus under deep conviction for our sin or for something we think is a greater need, this is the best thing He could say to us. If we have a hard time forgiving ourselves for repeated offenses toward God—even though we have confessed and heard His forgiveness—we are at odds with Jesus. We need to see ourselves as He does—clean. If we come to Him with a casual attitude toward sin and what we perceive as a greater request, we are also at odds with Jesus. Then we, too, must see ourselves as He does— needy.
Do Jesus’ words convict you? If so, let them; that was what He wanted you to hear. Do they comfort you? If so, let them; that, too, was what He wanted you to hear.
