Day 183.
I was challenged this morning by the interchange between Jesus’ and the Pharisees regarding healing on the Sabbath. The Pharisees are opposed to it because they consider it work. It goes against the “form” they have established for keeping the Sabbath properly. Jesus explains the more important principle of doing good on the Sabbath and heals the man. It gives me pause to ask, “where are we such sticklers for doing things the ‘right way’ that we are blind to what Jesus is doing?” With all of the recent talk about worship styles and avoiding the “me” church, I wonder if we have lost sight of where Jesus is moving and shaking. When should we humble ourselves to the fruit of ministries that do things in a way that we might frown upon? I know there is always a danger in seeing fluff rather than fruit, but I think it is worth asking of ourselves.
He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. (Matthew 12:9-14)
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: Jos 4, Ps 129-131, Is 62, Mt 12
Tasty food for thought, as usual.