Stretch out your hand

9 Jesus left that place and went into their synagogue. 10 A man with a withered hand was there. Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they asked, “Does the Law allow a person to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 Jesus replied, “Who among you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath and will not take hold of it and pull it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So the Law allows a person to do what is good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and it was made healthy, just like the other one. 14 The Pharisees went out and met in order to find a way to destroy Jesus. (Matthew 12:9-14, CEB)

Does the law allow for healing on the sabbath?

This is a question to entrap. It is asked in order to make Jesus look bad no matter how it is answered. If Jesus says no, then He is insensitive to the needs of humans, and if He says yes, then He is going against the Law.

It is a no win situation. But the answer is a resounding yes. The law allows for healing on the sabbath because that is restoration to relationship. And that is what God is relationship. Healing on the sabbath is restoration to sabbath.

So go and love people, love God.

Living

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord? 2 If I’m not an apostle to others, at least I am to you! You are the seal that shows I’m an apostle. 3 This is my defense against those who criticize me. 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to travel with a wife who believes like the rest of the apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who don’t have the right to not work for our living? 7 Who joins the army and pays their own way? Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat its fruit? Who shepherds a flock and doesn’t drink its milk? 8 I’m not saying these things just based on common sense, am I? Doesn’t the Law itself say these things? 9 In Moses’ Law it’s written: You will not muzzle the ox when it is threshing. Is God worried about oxen, 10 or did he say this entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake because the one who plows and the one who threshes should each do so with the hope of sharing the produce. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it so much to ask to harvest some material things from you? 12 If others have these rights over you, don’t we deserve them all the more? However, we haven’t made use of this right, but we put up with everything so we don’t put any obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get to eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share part of what is sacrificed on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel. 15 But I haven’t taken advantage of this. And I’m not writing this so that it will be done for me. It’s better for me to die than to lose my right to brag about this! 16 If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:1-16, CEB)

What do you do in life?

Or how do you make a living?

What we do in life and how we obtain things to live could be two entirely different things.

We all do things to make the means to support ourselves, but all of us have to preach the gospel. Some of us make our living from the preaching of the gospel. And I know I can say I am grateful for those that get that and help support ministries so that God’s work can be done.

But all of us need to preach the gospel, everyday all the time. In everything we do we must share the love of God.

So go and do your job to make a living, but in that, love people, love God.

what matters

2 Look, I, Paul, am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, having Christ won’t help you. 3 Again I swear to every man who has himself circumcised that he is required to do the whole Law. 4 You people who are trying to be made righteous by the Law have been estranged from Christ. You have fallen away from grace!5 We eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit by faith. 6 Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t matter in Christ Jesus, but faith working through love does matter. 7 You were running well—who stopped you from obeying the truth? 8 This line of reasoning doesn’t come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast works through the whole lump of dough. 10 I’m convinced about you in the Lord that you won’t think any other way. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever that may be. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I’m still preaching circumcision, why am I still being harassed? In that case, the offense of the cross would be canceled. 12 I wish that the ones who are upsetting you would castrate themselves! 13 You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. 14 All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour each other, be careful that you don’t get eaten up by each other! (Galatians 5:2-15, CEB)

It does not matter what you look like on the outside or the things you do that someone says are required. None of these things matter. Circumcised or not circumcised is not the entrance to eternity.

We are set right by God through the grace of Christ. It is not our appearance or adherence to a set of rules. When we love our neighbor and love God we are performing the law, so not external mark is going to make a difference.

We are called to love people and love God and when we do that, that is all that matters.

Be like Jesus

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs. 3 This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain. 4 He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one was tough enough to control him. 5 Night and day in the tombs and the hills, he would howl and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him, 7 shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” 8 He said this because Jesus had already commanded him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!” 9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He responded, “Legion is my name, because we are many.” 10 They pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of that region. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. 12 “Send us into the pigs!” they begged. “Let us go into the pigs!” 13 Jesus gave them permission, so the unclean spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. 14 Those who tended the pigs ran away and told the story in the city and in the countryside. People came to see what had happened.15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who used to be demon-possessed. They saw the very man who had been filled with many demons sitting there fully dressed and completely sane, and they were filled with awe. 16 Those who had actually seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man told the others about the pigs. 17 Then they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region. 18 While he was climbing into the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed pleaded with Jesus to let him come along as one of his disciples. 19 But Jesus wouldn’t allow it. “Go home to your own people,” Jesus said, “and tell them what the Lord has done for you and how he has shown you mercy.” 20 The man went away and began to proclaim in the Ten Cities all that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed. (Mark 5:1-20, CEB)

Notice that Jesus is in a non Jewish land here. We know this because of the herd of pigs.

But Jesus is doing miracles for all people, not just the chosen people of God.

I also have to say that I wish the 2000 pigs had not rushed off the cliff, that is a loss of a lot of bacon. But Jesus freed the man from the spirit that had held him and returned him to his place in society. Evil spirits or uncleanliness in those days would send you out of the city and you had to fend for yourself. And most people would cross the street or go out of their way not to come near you. It was a death sentence. So Jesus literally saved this mans life by restoring him to relationships and community.

That is why community is important, and why we should love all, without question, because Jesus did. And we need to be like Jesus.

Free from concern???

32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.33 But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction. 36 If someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward an unmarried woman whom he knows, and if he has strong feelings and it seems like the right thing to do, he should do what he wants—he’s not sinning—they should get married. 37 But if a man stands firm in his decision, and doesn’t feel the pressure, but has his own will under control, he does right if he decides in his own heart not to marry the woman. 38 Therefore, the one who marries the unmarried woman does right, and the one who doesn’t get married will do even better. 39 A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only it should be a believer in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she stays the way she is. And I think that I have God’s Spirit too. (1 Corinthians 7:32-40, CEB)

There is a reason Roman Catholic priests are not supposed to be married. They are married to their congregation, or to God. So their focus is the people and the mission of God.

I can safely say that being a husband, father, and pastor makes for a lack of focus sometimes. But not being married could also cause issues as we have seen from scandals in the church.

So how do we stay free from concerns?

We don’t in this life. But we strive to follow God where God is leading us and to be what God has created us to be. Will we succeed, yes, but we will fall short sometimes.

Just follow God and know that God is always there to help you up when you fall.

Purified

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. 18 On the next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All of the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he gave them a detailed report of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 Those who heard this praised God. Then they said to him, “Brother, you see how many thousands of Jews have become believers, and all of them keep the Law passionately. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to reject Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to live according to our customs. 22 What about this? Without a doubt, they will hear that you have arrived. 23 You must therefore do what we tell you. Four men among us have made a solemn promise.24 Take them with you, go through the purification ritual with them, and pay the cost of having their heads shaved. Everyone will know there is nothing to those reports about you but that you too live a life in keeping with the Law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we wrote a letter about what we decided, that they avoid food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”26 The following day Paul took the men with him and went through the purification ritual with them. He entered the temple and publicly announced the completion of the days of purification, when the offering would be presented for each one of them. (Acts 21:17-26, CEB)

What does it mean to be purified?

Is there a ritual for purification?

To purify silver the silversmith holds the silver in the hot fire burning off the impurities until they can see their reflection. So until we reflect God so that others see God and not us we are not purified.

So how do we get purified? Shave our heads and offer sacrifices and follow the Law to the letter?

The law can not make us pure, only God can, so we follow God and do what God has commended, love God and love others, and in this we will be purified.

Do not put you own desires or needs above that of another. Love God, love neighbor.

Love People, Love God!

hear

21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.” 25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out. 27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28, CEB)

Even the unclean spirits obey him!

Did the clean spirits obey other people?

The spirits knew who Jesus was before he told the spirits who he was. They recognized God incarnate. Why do we struggle with this?

I wonder if we had been in the temple with Jesus and heard his teaching and saw the things he did, would we be quicker to believe who he is?

Or would it make us wonder and question as it seems the leaders and some of the people of that time did. We think that being there would make us believe so much easier, but would it?

Do you need to see Jesus to believe in Jesus?

Where is Jesus?

28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake in the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed came from among the tombs to meet him. They were so violent that nobody could travel on that road. 29 They cried out, “What are you going to do with us, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time of judgment?” 30 Far off in the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you throw us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 Then he said to the demons, “Go away,” and they came out and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. 33 Those who tended the pigs ran into the city and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men.34 Then the whole city came out and met Jesus. When they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. 9 Boarding a boat, Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake and went to his own city. (Matthew 8:28—9:1, CEB)

Why pigs?

Well the most prominent reason is to show that Jesus was not with the Israelites at this point. The Israelites would not be herding pigs as they are unclean. Jesus was doing miracles for everyone.

Where can you go that Jesus is not already there? No where. We do not go someplace to take Jesus, we go there to meet Jesus and join him in what God is already actively doing there.

Where can you join Jesus?

tripped

12 “Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: These are the words of the one who has the sharp, two-edged sword: 13 I know that you are living right where Satan’s throne is. You are holding on to my name, and you didn’t break faith with me even at the time that Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who follow Balaam’s teaching. Balaam had taught Balak to trip up the Israelites so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you have some who follow the Nicolaitans’ teaching. 16 So change your hearts and lives. If you don’t, I am coming to you soon, and I will make war on them with the sword that comes from my mouth. 17 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. I will give those who emerge victorious some of the hidden manna to eat. I will also give to each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:12-17, CEB)

It is easy to have faith in Jesus and yet get caught up in the world around us. We get tripped up by those around us doing things and we think it will be ok, but then fall into bad habits.

Jesus wants us to be focused on Him. God gives us a life we can’t possibly image, we just need to stay true to our faith and follow God.

What trips you up and takes your focus away from Jesus?

Not natural…

6 But it’s not as though God’s word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are part of Israel. 7 Not all of Abraham’s children are called Abraham’s descendants, but instead your descendants will be named through Isaac. 8 That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants. 9 The words in the promise were: A year from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son. 10 Not only that, but also Rebecca conceived children with one man, our ancestor Isaac. 11 When they hadn’t been born yet and when they hadn’t yet done anything good or bad, it was shown that God’s purpose would continue because it was based on his choice. 12 It wasn’t because of what was done but because of God’s call. This was said to her: The older child will be a slave to the younger one. 13 As it is written, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. 14 So what are we going to say? Isn’t this unfair on God’s part? Absolutely not! 15 He says to Moses, I’ll have mercy on whomever I choose to have mercy, and I’ll show compassion to whomever I choose to show compassion. 16 So then, it doesn’t depend on a person’s desire or effort. It depends entirely on God, who shows mercy. 17 Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have put you in this position for this very thing: so I can show my power in you and so that my name can be spread through the entire earth. 18 So then, God has mercy on whomever he wants to, but he makes resistant whomever he wants to. (Romans 9:6-18, CEB)

We are children of God, not natural children, but adopted.

God wants us to be a part of the family, and has made a way for us to be God’s children, not by our desire, but because God wants us.

God has chosen you. And there isn’t anything you can do about it!