We Do What Is Necessary

And it happened that He was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.  The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 

And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;  how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?   

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:23-28 

Jesus understood that people do what is necessary to survive.  In this case, His Disciples picked grain from the field to eat on the Sabbath.  It was an action that hurt no one, but seemed to break the religious law against working on the Sabbath. 

Jesus did not say that they had not broken a religious law, but pointed out that even David, who was highly esteemed by the Jews, had taken liberties with the laws of the Sabbath. 

Jesus indicated that doing the right thing out weighs following religious customs.  This being said, we can consider when we take actions to which some might object, if the action is a violation some of man made religious customs and, if so, does the violation matter or not?  

Then we do what is necessary. 

A Noise Like A Rushing Wind

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. 

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language o which we were born?"

Acts 2:1-7 

On the day of Pentecost the Apostles and followers of Jesus were all together and hiding because they were afraid the Jews would kill them.  They were praying, and when God sent the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in other languages which they had never learned. This caused confusion among the Jews and those who heard them speaking.  

The arrival of the Holy Spirit gave renewed life to the believers' faith.  And, at this time  Peter boldly preached to the crowd and many new Christians came into the Church. 

We too can share in this boldness of the Holy Spirit by seeking the gifts of the Spirit and bravely sharing the truth of the Gospel.   

May you experience the coming of the Holy Spirit into your life.  

Wings Like Eagles

 

Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

They will mount up with wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow tired.

They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

We can wear ourselves out trying to hurry things along.  Yet, here we are being told to wait on the Lord and be renewed. 

So, when you are feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, remember this scripture and take time to rest and be renewed, knowing that the Lord is on your side. 

 

Walk Away

 

The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”  

John 10:24-32

When we think about Jesus, we often only think about His teachings and His crucifixion and resurrection.  We miss that He was continuously threatened by the Jews.  

We can learn from Jesus' response in this case.  He did not plead for His life, He questioned why they wanted to stone Him.  And, He walked away. 

As Christians we are sometimes confronted by people who want to insult us or who question our actions or who taunt us.  We can follow Jesus model and ask, "Why is this a problem for you?" then walk away.  

Not Ashamed

And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it."  

"For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 

Mark 8:34-38 

It has been said that Christianity is a simple faith, but it is not easy.

When Jesus calls us, we are commanded to give up our old ways.  That is, to stop working only for our own benefit, and start working to further the Gospel.  For some people this is difficult because it may result in their friends and, sometimes, even their families turning against them because they do not like the person's changed life.

Jesus point this out when He says, "What does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"  

Once we understand that choosing to live in a Christian manner has nothing to do with pleasing or not pleasing others, but serving God, it becomes easier to follow Jesus and to unashamedly proclaim Him as our Savior.   

 

Hope, Joy And Peace

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

We have hope because we serve God who cares for us and wants what is best for us.  This hope extends to every inch of our lives.  When we pray, we pray believing God hears and will answer our prayers.  No matter what we face in life, God is on our side.

And, because of this we are filled hope, joy and peace. 

 

The Power Of God Packs A Punch

 

As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”

Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”  When He said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:1-7

We can learn two things from this.

First, physical infirmities which we suffer have nothing to do with sin.

Second, it was not the spit that healed the blind man, but the power of God.

The power of God still packs a punch today. 

And, it is just a prayer away.