Stretch Out Your Hand
Greetings in the Lord!
Today's word comes from Mark 3:1-6 and Titus 3:9-11~
"Another time he (Jesus) went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
~In both passages it is easy to see that the Lord requires us to go beyond what we think we know about His law to reach a place of faith that allows for the moving of the power of the Holy Spirit. He is like the wind; He cannot be contained and no one knows the way the Holy Spirit goes. Are you surprised at how angry the Lord gets with the people in the synagogue? In jealousy and self-righteousness they stubbornly refuse to be taught anything new about 'the Law', about the true heart of the Father and demonstration of His power through the healing miracles of Christ. Jesus was only doing as He saw His Father doing--as we, too, are called to do.
Very clearly these passages show us that if we refuse to believe, to be taught, or seek to contend with the moving power of the Holy Spirit, He moves demonstrating the statutes of the Lord in power, then we are in the wrong. I have met many modern-day Pharisees. You can always count on them to be the biggest opponent of the prophetic movement. In jealousy and self-righteousness they refuse to be taught anything from the Spirit, and will instead, look to debate, criticize, or slander. We do not engage in this. "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." (Titus 3:1-2) That is the question the Lord asked the people in the synagogue, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" The word today seeks to encourage us to continue to do good, especially in the face of stubborness or hostile disbelief.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
Today's word comes from Mark 3:1-6 and Titus 3:9-11~
"Another time he (Jesus) went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
~In both passages it is easy to see that the Lord requires us to go beyond what we think we know about His law to reach a place of faith that allows for the moving of the power of the Holy Spirit. He is like the wind; He cannot be contained and no one knows the way the Holy Spirit goes. Are you surprised at how angry the Lord gets with the people in the synagogue? In jealousy and self-righteousness they stubbornly refuse to be taught anything new about 'the Law', about the true heart of the Father and demonstration of His power through the healing miracles of Christ. Jesus was only doing as He saw His Father doing--as we, too, are called to do.
Very clearly these passages show us that if we refuse to believe, to be taught, or seek to contend with the moving power of the Holy Spirit, He moves demonstrating the statutes of the Lord in power, then we are in the wrong. I have met many modern-day Pharisees. You can always count on them to be the biggest opponent of the prophetic movement. In jealousy and self-righteousness they refuse to be taught anything from the Spirit, and will instead, look to debate, criticize, or slander. We do not engage in this. "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." (Titus 3:1-2) That is the question the Lord asked the people in the synagogue, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" The word today seeks to encourage us to continue to do good, especially in the face of stubborness or hostile disbelief.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
Comments