Scripture reflection: Matthew 12: 9-14
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
Lord Jesus--Turning points hinge the direction and the orientation that life goes in. For these key people in the nation a simple thing like healing on the Sabbath. Something that should have turned their heart toward the Father actually galvanized opposition to Your ministry.
Lord Jesus--Move the hinge points in my life in a direction that is toward you. I grant you complete freedom in the turnings of that hinges and as they creek and slowly move may they be always toward your grace and hope. May you continue your work of spiritual formation that is taking place within my heart.
11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
In this simple line of reasoning, you call me to the work Lord Jesus. It is Your call on the lives of all who follow you that it is lawful, it is Your example, to do good on the Sabbath. You legislated by Your word and cut through the encrustation of what had accumulated over the law by tradition. You cut to the heart of what the law was meant to bring about, identifying good and evil. In a sad footnote, by this man's healing You focused the opposition against you. Again identifying good and evil in a way that cuts across all futile attempts at control, and boundary setting on the part of those who lined up against You.
13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Lord Jesus--There was no one else who could have done what you did for this man in a moment. Surgeon's were not alive and are not alive that could have reconstructed this man's hand like you did without a knife, or operating room and by saying a word of power and grace.
Those words of power and grace are what I long to hear spoken and to see the results in my life and the lives of those around me...hands that can stretch to their full extension and reach, touch and hold what could never have been held without Your words of power being spoken. Speak Lord Jesus!
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
Lord Jesus--Turning points hinge the direction and the orientation that life goes in. For these key people in the nation a simple thing like healing on the Sabbath. Something that should have turned their heart toward the Father actually galvanized opposition to Your ministry.
Lord Jesus--Move the hinge points in my life in a direction that is toward you. I grant you complete freedom in the turnings of that hinges and as they creek and slowly move may they be always toward your grace and hope. May you continue your work of spiritual formation that is taking place within my heart.
11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
In this simple line of reasoning, you call me to the work Lord Jesus. It is Your call on the lives of all who follow you that it is lawful, it is Your example, to do good on the Sabbath. You legislated by Your word and cut through the encrustation of what had accumulated over the law by tradition. You cut to the heart of what the law was meant to bring about, identifying good and evil. In a sad footnote, by this man's healing You focused the opposition against you. Again identifying good and evil in a way that cuts across all futile attempts at control, and boundary setting on the part of those who lined up against You.
13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Lord Jesus--There was no one else who could have done what you did for this man in a moment. Surgeon's were not alive and are not alive that could have reconstructed this man's hand like you did without a knife, or operating room and by saying a word of power and grace.
Those words of power and grace are what I long to hear spoken and to see the results in my life and the lives of those around me...hands that can stretch to their full extension and reach, touch and hold what could never have been held without Your words of power being spoken. Speak Lord Jesus!In the coming day Lord Jesus I will be listening for Your voice help these ears listen.
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