Remove the Roof

Sometimes leading people to God is as simple as removing the roof.  In Mark chapter 2 we read the story of Jesus healing the paralytic.  Scripture says that as Jesus came into Capernaum He was flooded by people seeking help and healing; so flooded, in fact, that no one could even get in the door of the home in which Christ was staying.  Desperate to see their friend healed, these men decided that if they could not move the crowd they would remove the roof.  They carried their friend to the roof, dug a hole and lowered him down to Jesus. 

Sometimes leading people to God is as simple as removing the roof – the obstacle standing in their way.  For instance, I’ve met a lot of people who told me that they never would have come to church without the invitation of someone they knew.  Why?  They simply couldn’t see around the obstacle of having to go alone.  I’ve met people who came to Christ because someone gave them petrol money and, upon inquiring why, were told about a man named Jesus.  I’ve seen children come to faith because a family in their neighborhood overcame the obstacle of transportation by taking them to church. I came to church because my youth pastor provided transport for me every sunday!

So look for opportunities to remove the roof.  Maybe there’s a single mom in your neighborhood who can’t see around the obstacle of having to go alone; invite her to come with you.  Maybe there’s a co-worker who doubts that God really cares; show them God’s compassion through yours. We may not be able to remove every question or doubt we encounter but we can remove the simple barriers often keeping people from believing that Jesus cares about them.