Read: Luke 5:18-26, Matthew 9:1-2

Many times, the people that surround us have power to determine the direction our lives will take. It’s called the power of association. This is the reason why carefulness is required as we make a choice of who to bring into our inner circle.

This scripture introduces us to a man that was paralyzed; another version says he could totally not move his body. However, He had a number of friends that had known him before his present predicament. They embraced him at his worst and made up their minds to go the extra mile for him to be well again. These men believed in Jesus, they had probably heard the many miracles he had performed and this is what pushed them to drop the man down in the house where Jesus was through the roof. What a display of faith and even more a mark of true friendship! These men had the concern of this man at heart. His pain was their pain that’s why they did everything in their power to save him. They understood that this was just a dark season in his life and it was not permanent.

You need such in life.Well, every one of us does! They are called destiny helpers; men and women that love you for who you are not what you have. These are the kind that will see you at your worst, down and messed up but still stick around you. People who despite knowing your weaknesses decide to walk the journey with you towards becoming better without judging you. They will be there in good and bad days and can be counted on. They have your interest at heart, they are willing to go the extra mile for you and with you, cry and laugh with you all the way. These ones know Jesus, they have a personal relationship with him and they are assigned to hold your hand until you become God’s purpose in life. These kind must be few lest you come to ruin, but they are the ones that the wise man says they stick closer than a brother. (Prov 18:24).If you find such; treasure and keep them because there are times in life when you need someone to ‘go up the roof and lower you down to Jesus’ like they did in this story.

May God connect you to true friends; covenant brothers and sisters that will always have your back no matter what.As you trust God for such divine relationships like that between David and Jonathan(1 Sam 18:1-4) ,may you too be a reliable,dependable ,in and out of season kind of friend that can also be counted on.

Selah.