The Quiet Obedience of the Paralytic

Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. (Luke 5:25 NASB)

With all the drama preceding the healing of the paralytic, the actual event was really so simple and sweet. Remember that the scribes and Pharisees were very upset with Jesus's comments about forgiving sin. He had stopped in the midst of healing the paralytic to deal with their questions. Turning back, Jesus just spoke a few words, the man stood up, did EXACTLY what Jesus had told him, and went home with his pallet. Along the way, he told everyone he saw about what Jesus had done for him. There was no drama, just quiet obedience and enthusiastic testimony to God's mercy and grace. 

I love drama, and I love to hear the exciting testimony of someone who was dragged from the depths of depravity and turned around in a flashy manner. There is nothing, however, that is sweeter than this scene. Jesus looks down, tells the man to get up and go home, and the man stands and goes. He just quietly obeys. There was no showy trek to the river for mud, just simple standing and going. It's easy to overlook the importance of that kind of obedience, but it is critical to the kingdom of God. 

I wonder what God would do if we just simply stood and went every time Jesus told us. What if we did what He said without questions, whining, or arguing every time? He would change the world with that kind of obedient heart. That's what would happen. More souls would be saved. More lives transformed by the power of God. More prodigals would come home. 

Today, commit to the quiet, simple obedience of the paralytic. Ask God to make His direction so clear that you can obey instantly without question and without fanfare, then do it. No whining or arguing allowed. Pray that our loved ones would see our obedience, hear the testimony that accompanies it, and be drawn to Jesus and that same obedient walk of faith. Pray for faith, and fruit, that lasts.