Good morning! Today’s devotion is a little long, but I pray the Lord will speak to you through it. Blessings to you as you allow the Lord to take the lead. Happy Thursday!

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 12:1-8 NLT

“1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

³ Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?  ⁴ He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. ⁵ And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? ⁶ I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! ⁷ But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[Hosea 6:6] ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

REFLECTION

Jesus is consistently correcting the Pharisees. Where the Pharisees were so focused on condemning the disciples for the violation of the law (Exodus 20:8-11) – stressing that the disciples were plucking wheat from its stem is reaping, rubbing the wheat heads between their palms is threshing, and blowing away the chaff is winnowing.

Jesus reminds the Pharisees that it is more important to show mercy than to keep with religious traditions. 

He shares a scripture from Hosea 6:6, “I want you to show love,[b]
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me[c]
more than I want burnt offerings.”

Jesus was not only correcting the Pharisees because they failed to understand compassion for people’s basic needs (the disciples were hungry – Deuteronomy 23:24-25), but for their intense concern for the sacrifices so He reminded them of other Biblical violations/exceptions (David in 1 Samuel 21:1-6 – referring to the Leviticus 24:9; The priest in the temple Numbers 28:9-10 and 28:18-19, where they were considered blameless). Bottom line Jesus is Lord and He is the Lord of the Sabbath – He controls what can be done on it.

Jesus reminds us that He wants the Pharisees and us to show love and know Him more, which is much greater than anything we can present in our own strength as a sacrifice or tradition. However, sometimes, we get more involved with the acts of doing for the Lord and holding to religious traditions than being with the Lord and acting in love.

Brothers and sisters, let me be real, too often we are doing and going through the motions in the name of Jesus without a personal relationship with Him. Don’t let that be you. Love in the name of Jesus. Show mercy in the name of Jesus. Put your relationship with the Lord before other relationships, before work, and before projects. Allow the Lord to work in you and flow out of you in everything that you do.

Brothers and sisters, all the doing in the world won’t bring you much satisfaction if you haven’t invited the Lord into your life and begin to be in relationship with Him first.

PRAYER

Father God,  we love you and thank you for all that you have done for us.  Lord, you are the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. You alone direct our steps and guide us by day and night. Lord, lead us to show more mercy and love for our sisters and brothers in the faith. Lord, direct our speech and slow down our judgment of others giving us discernment and wisdom to speak in love and in alignment to your word. Lord, cover us with your Holy Spirit. May our life not be filled with religious duties, but let it be overflowing in relationship with you. Lord, as we serve you let it be from a pure heart and desire to serve you and your people. Lord, whatever is lacking or not pleasing to you – remove it. Lord, help us to see the lost and offer hope. Lord, help us when we are in the valleys to see you with us. Lord, remove anxiety,  depression, fear and worry from the hearts of your believers and help us to step out in faith and do your will. Lord, we pray for those in ministry today who are facing burnout and are just doing things “in the name of Jesus”, Lord restore their energy. Lord, reignite their passion and love for you. Lord, help them to reassess their relationship with you and seek you for healing, mercy and love. Lord, help us to live for you and share the gospel message in love and compassion. Lord, work in our hearts and help us to be better representatives of your love, peace, and mercy in this world. Help us to be an example to others and bring glory to your name.

In Jesus name, amen.

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UPDATES

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