Jesus was in the Synagogue on the Sabbath when He came upon a man with a shriveled, deformed hand. The questions He posed to the Pharisees were simple and to the point…what is more important – the Sabbath’s laws and rituals or human life? No wonder Jesus was so exasperated at their callous and insensitive silence. For all the Pharisees saw was the Law, while all Jesus saw was the suffering.
Author: kezha1
A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.
Matthew 15:32 ” Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, ‘ I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’ “
Along the shore of the Sea of Galilee people had brought the lame, blind, and crippled for Jesus to touch. In the midst of this healing service, Jesus was giving them spiritual food…but now the Lord was looking very practically at the needs of their physical bodies. Meeting the basic needs of a person – food, shelter, or clothing – was an essential part of the Gospel Jesus taught. No one can listen if their stomach is growling loudly and they’re shivering from cold.
II Corinthians 3: 14-16 ” But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
When we turn and embrace Jesus, the scales fall off our eyes and we’re able to see the truth. The light invades our minds, and we are then able understand with clarity and certainty the new covenant offered to us by Jesus Christ. When we say yes to the Lord, the shroud is lifted up and removed from our hearts, minds, and souls…and we are finally set free.
Isaiah 25:1 ” O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”
Thanking God and being grateful should be an everyday occurrence for us. Thanking Him for the many blessing we see and experience…but as importantly, the many blessings we’re totally unaware of… Blessings of safety, security, and certainty in His love. Today, take a moment to thank the Lord for the many wonderful things in your life.
Romans 12:21 ” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
While Jesus walked this earth He had many enemies who hated and despised Him…but He never returned that anger with rage of His own. We need to look at His example daily as we deal with unlovable people around us. People may be hostile, but we don’t need to have hostility against them. We may be hated, but we don’t need to be hateful back. Anger will never be calmed by more anger.
Joshua 1:9 ” Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Fear will stop us in our tracks for a bit…but discouragement is much more devastating in the long run, especially to our psyche. Discouragement will eat at our self-confidence, break our spirit, and dash all hope. When we allow discouragement to creep in…we’re suddenly intimidated and demoralized to the point of giving up. That’s when we need to stop… and remember this scripture and its directives.
Deuteronomy 4:24 ” For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
The Lord allows no rivals…He is the only One worthy of our worship. His protective intolerance towards idolatry is for our own good, but also realize, He will never tolerate glib lip-service of faux reverence. As Exodus 15:7 states, ” In the greatness of Your majesty You threw down those who opposed You. You unleashed Your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
“to be holy”…what does that mean to you? Holiness is an outward expression of an inward transformation when the Holy Spirit takes up residency inside you. It’s a process of realizing the potential within you for humility, purity, faith, and grace. Holiness is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus and less like yourself.
Matthew 13:44 ” The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Human beings are an inquisitive lot. We are ever searching, ever seeking, ever pursuing for what we don’t have. Whether it be physical desires or mental enlightenment…the quest is always there. But what are we really searching for in that vast “field” we call life? We trudge along, head down, turning over rocks in this field, when there’s a treasure hidden right under our nose…and it’s called Jesus. A prize so exquisite, that we’ll give up all just for the change to claim it.
Colossians 3:15 ” And be thankful.”
A large Dutch oven full of bubbling beef stew is simmering away on this cold, blustery Fall afternoon…and it has me feeling very thankful. Thankful for a lovely vegetable garden this past Summer with so much produce that my freezer is now full. Thankful for friends that gave us potatoes from their plentiful spud harvest. But I am especially thankful to the Lord for His sunshine and rain that help to grow this delicious smelling meal.
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