HCC Weekly - June 16th, 2025

Today is day 167 of our Bible reading plan! I am so excited for our church! Great job everyone! Keep up the good work! Remember…He's where the joy is!

June 16th, 2025

Pastor Joy

This Devotional comes from a book we are reading as a staff, Anything Is Possible, by Joby Martin. In Mark 2, Jesus is teaching at a house and the place is packed. Verse 3 says, "And they-" these are the friends "-and they came, bringing to (Jesus) a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd they dug a hole through the roof above his head." These four men are willing to do whatever it takes to get their friend to Jesus. These four friends climb on the roof and start digging a hole. Everyone inside can hear what's going on, including Jesus. Imagine your disciple (Connect) group. Word has spread, you're packed out. But somebody you've never met really wants to join but can't get through the door. The mess is going to be expensive, it's going to annoy a lot of people, the cleanup is going to take a lot of time and energy, but none of this deters the four friends. Then picture the hole big enough. The four friends begin to lower their friends down in front of Jesus. One sick man was carried by four good friends. It begs the question: Do you have friends like that? Friends you can count on to carry you to Jesus? There will come a day where you cannot make it on your own. Where you find yourself paralyzed. Either by fear or doubt or a financial, relational, health crisis situation. The day is coming. Do you have four friends who will carry you to Jesus? You and I were made for relationships. Jesus himself asked his disciples to pray for him in the garden, he surrounded himself with friends at all times. We need brothers and sisters with us praying on our behalf. We are not made to be solitary. Our enemy would like to catch us alone, isolated, but HCC family we are made for relationships. Find brothers and sisters that can be your four friends who would be willing to break through the roof, carry your mat and be that for them too!