The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Mark 3:4,
"Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"
What a contrast! The Pharisees and Herodians were watching to see what Jesus would do on the Sabbath. Looking for a reason to accuse him they watched to see if he would heal someone. The passage tells us Jesus was angry and distressed with them. Knowing their hearts, he confronts them with the simplest reasoning in our verse above. Jesus then heals a man with a shriveled hand and the Pharisees and Herodians go out to plot how to murder Jesus. Jesus performs an act of compassion and those who are looking to protect their positions of authority plot to murder the compassionate one.
What strikes me this morning is the simple, clear reasoning of Jesus. Shouldn't anyone recognize the priority of doing good over doing evil? Particularly those who assumed the role of moral arbiter of the day? Driven by their envy or fear of losing what they had spent a lifetime to attain, their reasoning from our perspective seems so befuddled and misguided. In contrast, the perspective of Jesus is always clear. Simple, straightforward and piercing in its insight, the reasoning of Jesus Christ always brings clarity.
And this brings me to me. How clearly do I see things? Is my reasoning clear and insightful? Or do I struggle with the pull of motives or agendas I might not be so proud to boast of before the Lord? Clearly the Pharisees and Herodians acted shamefully. I suspect I have often as well. One thing I do know is that if I draw close to the Lord, listen to him, allow his thinking to influence mine, I will certainly be in a much better position to live my life in a way that is pleasing to him. And the wonderful thing is that he has chosen to share his thinking with me, with all of us! I don't have to rely on the dubious quality of my own insight, I can rely on his. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit speaking to us in the pages of Scripture, we have all we need to "become fully equipped for every good work". He has provided all we need "for life and godliness." I for one find this wonderful!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"
What a contrast! The Pharisees and Herodians were watching to see what Jesus would do on the Sabbath. Looking for a reason to accuse him they watched to see if he would heal someone. The passage tells us Jesus was angry and distressed with them. Knowing their hearts, he confronts them with the simplest reasoning in our verse above. Jesus then heals a man with a shriveled hand and the Pharisees and Herodians go out to plot how to murder Jesus. Jesus performs an act of compassion and those who are looking to protect their positions of authority plot to murder the compassionate one.
What strikes me this morning is the simple, clear reasoning of Jesus. Shouldn't anyone recognize the priority of doing good over doing evil? Particularly those who assumed the role of moral arbiter of the day? Driven by their envy or fear of losing what they had spent a lifetime to attain, their reasoning from our perspective seems so befuddled and misguided. In contrast, the perspective of Jesus is always clear. Simple, straightforward and piercing in its insight, the reasoning of Jesus Christ always brings clarity.
And this brings me to me. How clearly do I see things? Is my reasoning clear and insightful? Or do I struggle with the pull of motives or agendas I might not be so proud to boast of before the Lord? Clearly the Pharisees and Herodians acted shamefully. I suspect I have often as well. One thing I do know is that if I draw close to the Lord, listen to him, allow his thinking to influence mine, I will certainly be in a much better position to live my life in a way that is pleasing to him. And the wonderful thing is that he has chosen to share his thinking with me, with all of us! I don't have to rely on the dubious quality of my own insight, I can rely on his. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit speaking to us in the pages of Scripture, we have all we need to "become fully equipped for every good work". He has provided all we need "for life and godliness." I for one find this wonderful!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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