Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Mark 3:3-6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

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Reflect

There is a funny thing I have learned about the church in my years of ministry.  Sometimes churches would rather make secondary things the primary things.  Church members who get mad about carpet colors, spending too much money on youth programs, or always wanting to cut the budget on “unnecessary things.”  Those unnecessary things are always outreach or mercy things.  These people usually have a great desire to be in charge and they see themselves as protectors of God’s church.

These people can be most frustrating and I can only imagine what Jesus felt when the Pharisees reacted in this manner.  Instead of rejoicing over the health of a person, they plotted death because they believed some law of God had been broken.  It is sad when people in the church, especially leaders do not know what is evil and what is good.  Ultimately this is a heart problem and we have to be in constant prayer for our churches and its leaders.  We also have to pray for the courage to stand up against leaders who miss the point.

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Pray

Lord, give us discernment that we can accurately term evil and good.  Help us to praise for good things and stand against evil without mixing them up.  Be with the leaders and ministers of our churches that the body of Christ can be strengthened and true worship be practiced.  Amen.

Go with God!