PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 13:10-17
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her!” (Luke 13:16)
I can’t heal like Jesus but I do get his desire to set people free.
The religious leaders wanted to protect their religious program.
Concerned about protecting God’s law, they forgot the goal of the law.
People are still “kept bound” by some kind of darkness or deception.
So many in bondage, yet we are building or protecting the church.
As a church leader, this story calls me to rethink my priorities.
Week after week I ‘run the program’ and ‘defend the system’.
But what about those who need more than a church program or system?
Do I sometimes forget the people while working for the church?
Jesus comes to set people free, and so many people still need this.
Our mission is to help people find hope, healing and grace.
The church, like the sabbath, is a gift that can help us do this.
But when church or rules take precedence over people, something is wrong.
May I spend more time doing people stuff than doing churchy stuff!
PRAYER
Lord, I also need to be set free – from the bondage of churchianity. Help me to love and serve people, not just the institution.
“Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Jesus released her – and now she’s free to praise God and live for Him! That’s how I have to see my role too – to help free people from whatever keeps them from being fully human – image bearers of God. To find real freedom from the curse of sin that messes up lives in so many different ways. That work has no limits of when or where – it’s not bound by laws – only the law of God to love Him and love my neighbour. Love will go beyond the restrictions and reach out – especially the authority of man. Lord help me with the discernment and the willingness to reach out like you Lord Jesus!
Rules.
Rules for Sabbath observance has changed.
Thou shall not – for example knit, ride a bike, go to the beach . . . on a Sonday. These are made made rules which disappear over time. The focus needs to be on the Lord and praising Him bringing healing to the people. Today Sabbath oberservance has gone overboard the other way – do your own thing. We desire to have it our own way and not His way. Each day of the week, the Lord needs to be first in all of my activities. To have the joy of the Lord I need to put Jesus first. Others second and Yourself/Myself last. Then truly like the woman we praise the Lord.
1 Praise him, praise him,
praise him in the morning,
praise him in the noontime.
Praise him, praise him,
praise him when the sun goes down.
2 Love him, love him,
love him in the morning,
love him in the noontime.
love him, love him,
love him when the sun goes down.
3 Trust him, trust him,
trust him in the morning,
trust him in the noontime.
Trust him, trust him,
trust him when the sun goes down.
4 Serve him, serve him,
serve him in the morning,
serve him in the noontime.
Serve him, serve him,
serve him when the sun goes down.
5 Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus in the morning,
Jesus in the noontime.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus when the sun goes down.