We Are Tools of Grace

 Luke 5: 17-39 tells the story of friends bringing a man to Jesus to be healed.  Jesus sees the faith of these friends, and heals this paralytic.  

Remember Jarius' daughter who was sick.  Matt. 9: 18-26 and Mark 5: 21-43.  Jarius asks Jesus to heal his daughter.  Jarius sought out Jesus because of his faith in Jesus.

Then there's the time when Jesus saw a sad sight.  A widow grieving over the death of her only son.  Luke 7: 11- 17.  Jesus was touched.  He saw the support the friends were giving the grieving mother and He did what only He could do.  He raised the son from the dead.

One more: John 11: 1-44.  Jesus loved this family, consisting of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  Lazarus became sick and Martha and Mary had faith that Jesus could heal their brother and sent for Him.  Jesus arrives too late.  Lazarus has died.  Again, Jesus raises the dead.

Note that it was not the faith of the sick person, nor certainly the faith of the deceased, that was the impetus for Jesus to respond.  It was the faith of others--cumulative others.   It wass the faith of the community.  

Doesn't that offer hope that whatever you are praying for will be answered?  The prayers of the faithful are heard.  Ask people to pray for you and your intentions.  Add your intentions to prayer lists.  People in communities are often asked to pray "for a personal intention."  Ask and it shall be granted to you.  Matt. 7: 7.