I
magine the frustration of a group of friends as they
arrive at the house where Jesus is, hoping to bring
before Him their paralyzed comrade who they are
carrying on a stretcher. When they get there,
they discover that they can't "reach Him because
of the crowd"
(Luke 5:19). There is
no way to haul their
friend into that crowded
home, as people surge toward
Jesus for their own miracle.
They try to catch their breath and tap into some re-
serves of strength while sweat drips from their faces.
There is a reason for this journey. They want their friend
to be restored. They could very well say at this point,
"Well we tried, I'm sorry but there's just no other way."
Yet
these friends are persistent. They find another way. They
actually climb up to the roof of a stranger's house, open a
hole by removing some tiles and lower the sick man on
his stretcher down into the crowd, right in front of
Jesus. What an amazing example of determination!
How persistent are we with people in need around us?
There are times when we must carry the burdens of oth-
ers--when we must bring those with broken bodies and
souls before Jesus only to discover that the road to get
there is steep, the circumstances inconvenient, the house
already full. How far will we go to carry that stretcher?
How far will we go so that others will find the healing
that only Jesus can provide?
I pray that you and I will be the kind of friends who
will go the extra mile and carry that stretcher!
Captain Scott Strissel is corps officer for The Salvation Army
in Brainerd, Minnesota.
by
CAPTAIN SCOTT STRISSEL
In Focus
............
THE ABCs of
Visit us online at www.thewarcry.com. Visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1�800�SAL�ARMY
to learn more about Salvation Army programs, disaster relief initiatives and donation options.
Admit Your Need
"For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23)
Believe in Christ
"Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved"
(Acts 16:31)
Commit Yourself to Christ
"Yet to all who received Him ... He gave
the right to become children of God"
(John 1:12)
Being truly sorry for your sins, and through the
power of Christ forsaking them, go for ward to live
for Christ. He will give forgiveness, power, victory,
purpose, the Holy Spirit and life eternal.
FOR
FURT
HER
ASSIS
TANC
E,
Pleas
e Con
tact
Us by
Retu
rning
This R
eply
Form
To: EDITOR IN CHIEF
SALVATION ARMY NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
615 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314
As a reader of The War Cry, I am interested in the following:
Your prayers
Follow�up counseling by a Salvationist
Bible study suggestions
Receiving The War Cry regularly
Information on how to become a Salvationist
Address of the nearest Salvation Army corps
Information on how to receive Christ as my Savior
I received Christ as Savior by reading the War Cry
Please Print:
Name
__________________________________________________________________
Address
________________________________________________________________
City
________________________________________
State
_______
Zip
______________
Phone
_____________________________
Email
_________________ _______________
MARCH 2014
DECEMBER 2014
Carry
That
Stretcher!
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