Welcome to 40 days with Christ day 4!
A daily scripture based word of encouragement from the life of our Lord Jesus. We’re just getting started and already you’ve hit the 10% mark! Hang in there the full 40 days and we will send you a congratulatory certificate of completion!
Let’s start with the word of Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven,
Help us to come to scripture today looking for Your truth. Please make us willing to listen, to hear, to understand, and most importantly to accept your teachings from scripture. The entire world was created at Your command. We know that you are the source of all truth.
We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!
SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 3:1-6 (New International Version*)
Another time, Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.)
DISCUSSION:
It’s funny how our predisposed attitudes often color how we perceive things. For example, scripture tells us there were some there that day just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus that Sabbath day. What did they see when Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand? An act of mercy?
An act of loving-kindness? No. They saw what they believed to be a violation of a law requiring rest. For no work was to be done on the Sabbath. (As if it was any more “work” for Jesus to heal a shriveled hand that to speak to a crowd.)
Their misunderstanding deeply distressed Jesus, who went ahead to do the right thing. Jesus met the need of that suffering man on the Sabbath. And those looking for a reason to accuse Jesus were granted their wish that day.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Father in heaven. Help us to seek the truth. May we always place the teachings of your son Jesus above our own expectations, above our Traditions, above even what we currently believe. Help us to approach Jesus with an open heart and an open mind. Teach us the truth Lord.
We thank you in advance for helping us to find that for which we seek.
In Jesus name we pray... AMEN!
Thanks for sharing some of your day with me today.
Take care and Lord willing, I’ll see you tomorrow for day 5 of our ongoing series “40 days with Christ”!
* New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
