Bigger Plans

Verse: Matthew 9:3-5
“Some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”?’”

Devotion
One thing I love about Jesus is that He always gets straight to the heart of the matter. Instead of dwelling on outward words or actions, He goes deeper, addressing what’s going on inside people’s hearts and minds. Some question these verses, wondering if Jesus could actually read people’s thoughts while He was on earth. But I think it’s simpler than that: Jesus understands the human heart. He knows how we react when we’re uncomfortable, especially when our idea of God is challenged.

Jesus could have just said, “Get up and walk; you are healed,” and that would have been enough. But He went further, showing everyone that He had the authority of God to forgive sins. This made the religious leaders uncomfortable, even angry, because it pushed them beyond the familiar. They had grown up with an understanding of God that was distant—one where you checked off the right boxes and kept moving. But Jesus came to restore a connection that had been lost for centuries, and that meant addressing not only our actions but the intentions of our hearts.

I can relate to that discomfort. It’s easier when God acts in ways that fit into my expectations, when life is predictable and simple. But when God starts to shake things up and get to the heart of the issue, I often find myself reacting just like the religious leaders—defensive and resistant. Yet, just as in this story, Jesus has a bigger plan. By the end of Matthew 9:1-8, not only was the paralyzed man physically healed, but he was healed on the inside too. And that deeper work is worth the discomfort.

So, next time we’re tempted to lash out in frustration or fear, let’s pause and consider what God might be doing. He always has a greater plan, one that goes beyond what we can see in the moment. We can trust that He is working to bring healing and restoration—both to us and to those around us.

Author: Joanna Martin