Duh!
Scripture:
"How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Matthew 12:12
Observation:
During Jesus' ministry he consistently disagreed with the Pharisees and Jewish rulers of the day. He refused to trade true obedience for rule-following and reminded them time and again that God desires a heart of submission rather than a life of sacrifice. The leaders of the day were frustrated and looked for ways to trip him up. Here they ask him if it is acceptable to heal on the Sabbath--if the Sabbath is a day of rest than clearly work is wrong and isn't healing work? Jesus answers them with a reminder which is probably a little embarrassing if they are willing to accept its truth: "It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Application:
I wish I could say I had no idea what they were thinking. It's so very obvious that doing good is lawful. How obtuse do you have to be to need a reminder for that!?! But honestly I have had to be reminded of simple truths like that myself; I can think of one time in particular where I got so anxious about how to respond to someone, felt so wronged by their behavior that I lost sight of the simple truth, and a trusted friend reminded me that I would never go wrong taking the high road. It was great advise--Godly advise--at just the right time.
I guess my challenge then is to live my life so in touch with my Savior that I don't need reminders that it is lawful to do good. As it becomes habit for me maybe I can even become that faithful friend to someone else.
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for your faithfulness in placing friends in my life that point me to You. Please empower me to live so plugged-in to you that I need those reminders less and less. Thank you for your patience with me and your amazing grace in working through me. Amen.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 by Bob
TITLE: I Desire Mercy…
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
OBSERVATION: Can you picture the Pharisee’s reaction when they saw Jesus and his disciples eating with the despised tax collectors and sinners? The Pharisees in Jesus’ day would have never entered the house of a known sinner, much less eaten with them. But Jesus’ response was a condemnation on those self-righteous men who were knowledgeable of the law but failed to fulfill it in their own lives. He challenged them to learn a verse of scripture that they were already familiar with, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, from Hosea 6:6. In this single statement Jesus had condemned generations of Pharisees and experts in the law who were leading the Israelites into a life of lengthy rituals and sacrifice, while forgetting to offer love and mercy to those who needed it.
APPLICATION: Today we live in a world much like in Jesus’ day. In our own community of Bend, it is estimated that eight out of ten people do not attend church or have any religious facilitation. In our own community we can also find Christian groups who ridicule and scoff at those who struggle in a life of alcohol and drug use, and a multitude of other vises that keeps them captive in sin and apart from our Lord. How would Jesus respond to these people? Assuredly with love and mercy. We need to do the same and spread God’s grace of love and mercy to all people, especially those who need it the most. Who do you know in Bend that needs some mercy?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and mercy that you bestow on me daily. I deserve far less, but because of your love you see me for what I can become in you, not what I am today. Help me to learn to be merciful to others in the same way.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
OBSERVATION: Can you picture the Pharisee’s reaction when they saw Jesus and his disciples eating with the despised tax collectors and sinners? The Pharisees in Jesus’ day would have never entered the house of a known sinner, much less eaten with them. But Jesus’ response was a condemnation on those self-righteous men who were knowledgeable of the law but failed to fulfill it in their own lives. He challenged them to learn a verse of scripture that they were already familiar with, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, from Hosea 6:6. In this single statement Jesus had condemned generations of Pharisees and experts in the law who were leading the Israelites into a life of lengthy rituals and sacrifice, while forgetting to offer love and mercy to those who needed it.
APPLICATION: Today we live in a world much like in Jesus’ day. In our own community of Bend, it is estimated that eight out of ten people do not attend church or have any religious facilitation. In our own community we can also find Christian groups who ridicule and scoff at those who struggle in a life of alcohol and drug use, and a multitude of other vises that keeps them captive in sin and apart from our Lord. How would Jesus respond to these people? Assuredly with love and mercy. We need to do the same and spread God’s grace of love and mercy to all people, especially those who need it the most. Who do you know in Bend that needs some mercy?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and mercy that you bestow on me daily. I deserve far less, but because of your love you see me for what I can become in you, not what I am today. Help me to learn to be merciful to others in the same way.
Monday, April 21, 2008 by Randy
TITLE:
Calming My Storm
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26 (NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Last month when we were on the Sea of Galilee, I gave a devotional on this passage. It is recorded in all three gospels: Matthew, Luke and John. As you look towards the west of the Sea, there is a distinct valley called the Arbel (alongside Mount Arbel). There is still a path that marks the road that led from Capernaum (on the Sea of Galilee) to Sephoris and the home town of Jesus, Nazareth. But what makes this valley so intriguing is that it had been called the “wind tunnel. Any storm coming from the west would blow through that valley and hit the Sea of Galilee with enormous force. The lake could be peaceful and then a storm would suddenly arise, with driving rain and gale-force winds. Such was the case when Jesus asked the disciples to go to the other side. Here are a few observations about this incident on the boat.
1) Crises and problems in life often come unexpectedly.
2) They may come when we are doing exactly what God wants us to do (Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee
3) When the storm comes, our faith will be challenged.
4) Jesus is able and willing to calm the storm, even when our faith is wavering.
APPLICATION:
What about my life? I can sure relate to the disciples. A number of times I have felt God has led me to a point in my life, only to face the storms of conflict or disappointment. I’ve asked “Don’t you care that I drown?” I recall one line of an old hymn that reads, “I’ve come this far by faith.” I wish I could say that! However, when the waves start spilling over into the boat, I have usually responded with panic and questions, second-guessing God’s direction. The good news is that God is faithful. I guess you could say “I've come this far because of God’s faithfulness.” Today I praise God for who he is. Even though I have “little faith” he is still willing to calm the storm.
PRAYER
Father, help me to grow in my faith. Forgive me when I doubt your leading. I need you so much in my life. Please calm the storms in my life. I want to know you more and fully follow you. AMEN.
Calming My Storm
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26 (NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Last month when we were on the Sea of Galilee, I gave a devotional on this passage. It is recorded in all three gospels: Matthew, Luke and John. As you look towards the west of the Sea, there is a distinct valley called the Arbel (alongside Mount Arbel). There is still a path that marks the road that led from Capernaum (on the Sea of Galilee) to Sephoris and the home town of Jesus, Nazareth. But what makes this valley so intriguing is that it had been called the “wind tunnel. Any storm coming from the west would blow through that valley and hit the Sea of Galilee with enormous force. The lake could be peaceful and then a storm would suddenly arise, with driving rain and gale-force winds. Such was the case when Jesus asked the disciples to go to the other side. Here are a few observations about this incident on the boat.
1) Crises and problems in life often come unexpectedly.
2) They may come when we are doing exactly what God wants us to do (Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee
3) When the storm comes, our faith will be challenged.
4) Jesus is able and willing to calm the storm, even when our faith is wavering.
APPLICATION:
What about my life? I can sure relate to the disciples. A number of times I have felt God has led me to a point in my life, only to face the storms of conflict or disappointment. I’ve asked “Don’t you care that I drown?” I recall one line of an old hymn that reads, “I’ve come this far by faith.” I wish I could say that! However, when the waves start spilling over into the boat, I have usually responded with panic and questions, second-guessing God’s direction. The good news is that God is faithful. I guess you could say “I've come this far because of God’s faithfulness.” Today I praise God for who he is. Even though I have “little faith” he is still willing to calm the storm.
PRAYER
Father, help me to grow in my faith. Forgive me when I doubt your leading. I need you so much in my life. Please calm the storms in my life. I want to know you more and fully follow you. AMEN.
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