THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:1-8
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8)
God created us to live in and en joy His creation rest.
This does not mean ‘not working’, but living life in the rest and joy of the Lord.
The Sabbath day was intended as a symbol, pointing to that rest and joy.
The religious leaders had turned it into a burdensome yoke.
They micromanaged peoples lives, making sure they didn’t cross their lines.
They did a similar thing with the temple – a system to control peoples lives.
And with the sacrifices – symbols of mercy became ritual duties.
God with His people is meant to be a symbol of rest and joy.
His presence, His peace, His mercy , they’re meant to bring joy and blessing.
This is not just what God wants FROM us… our duty to observe, to attend, to sacrifice.
This is what God wants FOR us… love, joy, peace, mercy.
How does your experience of present day religious practices compare.
Are church fellowship, bible reading, prayer, giving, serving, etc, a blessing to you?
If they’re empty, joyless practices, or duties done from obligation, we’ve missed the point.
God desires peace and joy and mercy, these are greater than the symbols themselves.
May our faith be more than religion, more than rules, may it bring blessing to our lives.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, if joy or peace or mercy are missing from my faith life, I am missing out on the ‘something greater’ You desire for me. Fill me with the fruit of Your Spirit!
Enjoy the day in joy is a saying I repeat regularly. That is only a possibility in His presence for the joy of the Lord God is my strength to live for Him each day.
Sabbath rest was a day set apart to remember God’s goodness, not only in the creation but also in our lives. It was/is a day of refreshment/rest/re-energizing. The religious leaders were caught up in their rituals of worship and not to the human needs of the people. The disciples were being fed in His presence.
And I? Am I caught up in the rituals of a ‘Sonday’ of do nots – ride a bike, go to the beach, knit as I was raised or enjoy the Sonday with His people in church and fellowship and in doing activities which bring rest/joy/happiness/power/insights. Which celebrates His presence in my life? Which enables me to share the joy of the Lord to those around me?
My life must be lived to be a blessing.
1 Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord;
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Refrain:
O Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
2 Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, let me bring your light;
and where there’s sadness, ever joy. [Refrain]
3 Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
in giving to all people, we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life. [Refrain]