Today is November 23
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. 

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  
 
Today’s reading is from the gospel of Luke, chapter 6.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.


Jesus seems to care a lot more about the heart of God than he does about getting black and white about religious rules. How does that sit with you?

Jesus asks the Pharisees: “Have you ever read what David did….” But OF COURSE they had. That’d be like asking a Constitutional lawyer if they’ve ever read the Constitution. But Jesus is making a point. There is a truth in scripture that they can’t see, because they are blinded by religion. It’s not that what they knew wasn’t true. It’s that it wasn’t all there is to know. How does that make you feel?

 Jesus is making a point. He asks this man to stand up front. Jesus looks them in the eye and asks a brazen question. Then he does the very thing they’re about to condemn Jesus for: he heals the man’s hand. On the sabbath. And, as Jesus does, he turns things upside down. Aren’t you thankful that the Character of God is displayed in ways like this? Thank God for the beauty of his love and mercy… Thank God for His kindness and generosity… That God that Christ came to fulfill the law, to offer grace, and to welcome us to his table, as His friends! Give Thanks!

Music Credit:
"Adore HIm" - Vineyard Worship/Samuel Lane (YouTube)