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\ / WHAT JESUS DID! -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hate-blind
Jesus left that place and went into their synagogue. In the
synagogue there was a man with a crippled hand. Some Jews
there were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus of doing
wrong. So they asked Jesus, "Is it right to heal on the
Sabbath day?"
-- Matthew 12:9-10 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Isn't it amazing how distorted our perspective can become when we are
motivated by hatred and opposition! Jesus goes to worship and finds a
man with physical problems. This is totally unsurprising. Jesus' habit
was to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus always found and/or
attracted those with all sorts of needs. Jesus, out of compassion, met
those needs when appropriate. Instead of going to the synagogue to
worship God or study the Torah, Jesus' opponents went to accuse and
trap him in controversy. They had not only abdicated the will of God
for the Sabbath by their legalistic rules, but they also had lost their
hearts because of hatred of Jesus. Jesus' emphasis on the necessity of
being right with each other so that God will not reject our worship
suddenly seems keenly relevant!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
God Almighty, Creator, and King, forgive me when my times of worship
mock you because I have other things, petty things, bitter things, evil
things toward others on my heart. Please forgive me, Lord, for being
uncharitable and unforgiving. Please remove from me the evil and
cynical heart that so permeates the age and create in me a heart more
like your Son Jesus. In Jesus' name, and by his grace, I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0603-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+12:9-10&sr=1&t=erv
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