PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 12:1-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8)
God created us to live in and enjoy His creation blessing and 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 did the same with the temple and sacrifices – symbols of grace became ritual duties.
These things represent what God wants FOR us, not what He wants FROM us.
Jesus came as Lord of the sabbath to restore us to full life with, like and for God!
Not just one day in seven, but a life lived in love, joy and peace WITH God.
How do you experience your faith life and spiritual practices?
Are church fellowship, bible reading, prayer, giving, serving, etc, a blessing to you?
They can only be a blessing if we are in relationship with the Lord behind them.
As a Jesus follower, I want to know the Lord of the sabbath, not just the symbol.
As we come to Jesus, He gives us rest – what the Sabbath was pointing (Matthew 11:28).
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 Presence in my life!
I am reminded how often I react as the Pharisees did; using legalism as an excuse to not offer mercy or grace. That I hesitate to live as You intended, and find verses to justify my way of life. Lord help me remember that I am in as much need of Your mercy as those around me.
Instead a day that was meant to be ‘free’ – not encumbered with the necessity of working the day to earn income – the Pharisees made it unnecessarily burdensome – Jesus wants us to see it as a day to be free to spend time in His creation – more time to fellowship and worship. Somehow we need to have that ‘sabbath’ time each day as well – as we go about our activities – not just on Sunday. How can I help liberate people and bring them closer to the “Word”?
The activities, the man made rules for observing the Sabbath had become more important than the love of the people, showing mercy and kindness, fellowship. The Sabbath should show how living for Jesus would be lived – love for God and love for fellow man. A restoration. Make me Lord and instrument of Your peace.
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.
Chorus: 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 wih all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness only light;
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive.
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Lord Jesus, you desire mercy, not sacrifice. You are lord of the Sabbath. In You I find rest. Help me to focus on You and not on legalistic practices. Help me to show compassion, as You do.
Lord Jesus you are the Lord of the Sabbath. Deliver me from the legalistic and ritualistic thought of observing the sabbath and help me to focus on your mercy, joy of your presence, and the rest to enjoy my peace with you.