Matthew 12:7 “But if You had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.” V8 “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Dear God,
I rejoice to be Your child, and to be loved and directed by You. To find You through thoughts given by the Holy Spirit in Your written word and in my contemplation of them is very rewarding in all ways.
How easy it is, with cold attitudes, and thoughts that are not from Jesus, to accuse another for their actions, because we believe they do not fit the model we believe in. Please alert me when I am acting like this, and impress me to repent upon my knees, so I can be filled with Your love instead.
This was the case, when the Pharisees saw the disciples, who were hungry and not having yet eaten, “began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.” Matt 12:1 and 2, because this infringed the way they believed that Sabbath should have been observed.
Jesus pointed out that this was not a merciful way to act and that no one would deprive an animal of its food, or from giving them rescue if they fell into a pit. To the displeasure of the Pharisees and spiritual leaders of the day, Jesus taught that He was greater than the rule of the synagogue, for He was Lord of the Sabbath. Hard heartedness, judgemental behaviour, was (is) not what God’s beautiful rest day was about, when anyone was (is) in love with their Creator. Sabbath was not only designed to celebrate all creation, but to provide mankind with physical rest, with time for spiritual refreshment, communication with God and mankind. To be healed of any disease, was absolutely in keeping with the purpose of the Sabbath, which God established to remember creation, when all creation was completed.
It is meant to be a delight to take time to remember and give praise for my/ all life, and for Your love and providence.
Thank You Jesus that You taught these beautiful lessons about the joy of loving You and how to be spiritually healed and uplifted by You every Sabbath. Also for teaching us, that it was never Your design, that we today make the mistake of going through the motions of Christian living, as did the Israelites with unconverted, cold unloving hearts.
Please forgive me for not practicing Your love toward You or any person I have contact with, on any day. By the gift of Your Holy Spirit please change me.
Amen