4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Mark 3:3-6 (CSB): “He told the man with the shriveled hand, ‘Stand before us.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Sometimes, things come into sharper focus when compared to something very different.
For instance, when I was dating my wife and preparing to ask her to marry me, I went looking for a ring. I arrived at a recommended store, and the jeweler wanted me to see the diamonds I was considering. So he took one out of the case and placed it on black velvet. Seeing that clear diamond against the black backdrop helped me see it much more clearly and develop a greater appreciation for it.
Sometimes, God does the same things in His Word. He shows us someone demonstrating some really good behavior against the backdrop of someone who is acting horribly. In this way, the good and right is observed, appreciated, and celebrated. That’s what we see in the verses I have chosen for today.
It was a Sabbath day on which Jews were commanded to rest. Jesus visited a local synagogue and noticed that a man in attendance had a shriveled hand. Jesus’ heart of compassion moved Him to help the man. But some other folks in that synagogue provided the dark backdrop. They were the Pharisees. As we read Mark’s account of this event, we realize that they didn’t care a lick about the man. Their hearts were cold and indifferent to the difficulties this man faced because of his withered hand. They were watching Jesus, almost daring Him to do anything to help the man because they were more focused on the law than a person created in God’s image.
When we see a situation like this, it provides a wonderful opportunity to quietly reflect on which response best aligns with our own hearts. So, which is it? Do you care about people, especially those who are hurting, and does your heart move you to help them like Jesus? Or does your heart look a lot like the Pharisees who were unmoved by the misfortunes of someone in need?
One other point worth mentioning: Those Pharisees believed they were doing the right thing. God had said in Exodus 20 that there was to be no work done on the Sabbath. Further, they believed that if Jesus healed the man, He would be working on the Sabbath.
The answer to this is found in Mark 2:27, where Jesus said something powerful.
Mark 2:27 (CSB): “Then he told them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.'”
In other words, God didn’t create the Sabbath law (or any other law for that matter) and then look for people to obey His laws. Instead, He created people first and then gave us the law for our benefit and blessing. As important as the law of God is (setting the standard for righteousness on earth), people are even more important. We hear Jesus saying that there are times when God’s laws can be momentarily suspended to help someone in need. (For instance, some cops will not give a ticket to a husband who is breaking the speed limit while getting his pregnant wife to a hospital because she is about to give birth.)
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you take an honest assessment of your heart, specifically in regard to whether you care about others like He does.
- Ask God to give you greater compassion and empathy for others, particularly those who are hurting.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into what the Bible says about genuinely caring for others, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“What does the Bible say about empathy?”
Sharing
If this post has been helpful to you or if you think it could help others, please consider tapping one of the social media buttons below to share it on your favorite platform.
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 