Month: July 2023

Have you ever heard the statement, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good?” The Pharisees were so Sabbath-minded that they were no earthly good. They worried about their righteous standing before God and did not notice the obvious needs of their community – like a woman “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.”

Scripture says, while teaching in the temple on the Sabbath, Jesus made clear that God was available for doing good on the Sabbath, even if the Pharisees weren’t. Our Lord was interested in bringing hope to God’s kingdom on this holy day, in which we all will have abundant life forever.

Jesus, in a calm and gentle voice, called the woman to him and said, “You are set free from your infirmity.” He placed his hands on her crooked, bent-over body and filled her with God’s Sabbatical healing power. At once, she was healed, and she praised God. Joy came to her on the day that was meant for freedom, worship and thanksgiving. However, not everyone was thrilled with Jesus’ intervention. The Pharisees were unhappy because Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, a day meant for no work.

Today, Jesus knows the Sabbath is for doing good and showing grace in the name of the Father – as Christ did for many on the Sabbath. He restored the Sabbath to its original intent: that all good things come from God, who is always available to help us, no matter the day or time. Thank God that he never takes a day off from caring for you and me!

“Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Luke 13:12 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for being Lord of the Sabbath. Father help me see that you are always available to bring healing and Joy, even on the sabbath. Listening for my cry no matter what the day or time. Thank you, God, for being Lord of the sabbath and not leaving it up to man’s legalistic ideology, in Christ’s name, Amen.

Growing up, I truly believed that the Sabbath was about rules, but over the years I have learned that not only is it about love for God, but also for each other. Therefore, another Sabbath practice to develop is that of embracing people. Sabbath invites us to value the relationships that God has placed in our lives.

The Pharisees were deeply disturbed by the Sabbath habits of Jesus and his disciples. As far as they were concerned, thirteen men walking through a field picking heads of grain were harvesting and rubbing those grains together and blowing off the chaff to eat the grain was threshing. The Pharisees, in an attempt to safeguard the Sabbath from work, had strictly forbidden both activities.

Jesus reminded them, however, that even their greatest earthly King, David, had once eaten consecrated bread in a time of need. Jesus was referring to a time when David was running for his life from King Saul and in desperation, had gone to the high priest to get food for his men (1 Samuel 21:1-6). The only food available was the consecrated bread that only the priests were allowed to eat. Although he no doubt struggled with the decision, the priest rightly decided to offer David the bread.

Today, there is a need for people to do away with man-made rules and regulations that only promote self and devalues others. The Sabbath is about fellowship and relationships not promoting bondage and fear. People are vitally important to God, embracing others and building relationships is a vital Sabbath practice for us.

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to [Jesus], “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:2 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for the many people you’ve placed in my life. Father, help me to be mindful of them throughout life but especially on the Sabbath. God, help me to build new relationships as I embrace your holy day and to reach out to them with your compassion, love, and care. In Jesus name, Amen.

Have you ever said to yourself in the words of that Tremaine Hawkins song “God what move shall I make, what step shall I take?” Philip, whom the Spirit called in our text today, had instructions on where to go. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south to the desert road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. There Philip met an Ethiopian official who was returning home from Jerusalem. The Spirit then led Philip to stay near the man and to help him understand a passage he was reading from Isaiah. Philip explained that the passage was about Jesus, the Son of God, who came to die for our sins, and then Philip baptized the Ethiopian, just as the man asked him to do.

Through the Spirit and the Word, the Lord directs us every day. God calls us to walk in his ways, loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbours as ourselves.

Today does God speak to us in the way he spoke to Philip? God certainly does speak to us in direct dramatic ways, but more often the Spirit of God speaks to us in quiet, subtle ways through his Word and through other believers (like Philip). We should always be following God’s Word and listening for his voice, especially as he nudges us to share his love with others.

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about . . . ?” Acts 8:34 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me to listen for your voice as you speak to me in different ways. Father, help me spend more time in your word so your voice will be clear to me. And let me like Philip, share your love with the people I meet In Jesus’s name. Amen.