Day 13: January 17, 2026

Whatever It Takes

Devotional: 

“Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.”

Mark 2:3-4 (HCSB)

Four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. When they arrived, they were met with an obstacle they didn’t expect. The crowd was so large that there was no way to get through the door. But instead of turning back, they changed their approach. They climbed onto the roof, broke through it, and lowered their friend down to Jesus.

They did whatever it took. These men understood that their friend was worth the effort, and Jesus was worth the inconvenience. They were not discouraged by the crowd, the pressure, the time it took, or the unconventional path they had to take. What they believed Jesus could do gave them the determination to persist.

New habits often feel difficult because they require us to move beyond what is familiar. Sometimes the way we’ve always prayed, served, reached out, or showed compassion no longer fits the moment we’re in. And yet, gratitude reminds us why we keep going. When we remember what Jesus has already done (how He has healed, restored, and forgiven us) we find fresh motivation to keep bringing others to Him.

What if we approached our families, friends, neighbors, and coworkers with that same determination? What if we said, “By any means necessary,” not out of pressure, but out of thanksgiving for the grace we ourselves have received? They were passionate because they realized an encounter with Jesus would leave their friend changed forever. What can meeting Jesus do for people you know?

New habits may be uncomfortable and unfamiliar, but it's worth it.

Reflect

Who has God placed in my life that is worth the effort it may take to bring them closer to Jesus?

One Step Forward

Thank God for the people He has entrusted to you. Ask Him to show you one intentional, perhaps unconventional way to reflect Christ to someone. Commit to doing whatever it takes in love.