Daily Reading & Meditation

Scripture: Luke 14:1-6

1 One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.

2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

3 And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"

4 But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go.

5 And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?"

6 And they could not reply to this.

Meditation:

                 How do you approach the commandment to observe the sabbath as a day of rest to honor the Lord? The Pharisees were convinced that Jesus was a reckless Sabbath-breaker. The Gospels record seven incidents in which Jesus healed people on the Sabbath - the seventh day of the week set apart for rest and the worship of God. You would think Jesus' miracles on the Sabbath day of rest would draw admiration and gratitude from all. Unfortunately, each incident seemed to incite increasing hostility from the religious leaders who held an interpretation that went beyond God's intention for the Sabbath day of rest. They were certain that Jesus was a dangerous and irreligious man, a Sabbath-breaker, who must be stopped at all costs! 

"Lord Jesus, may I always honor you, both  in my work and in my rest, and in the way I treat my neighbor. Fill me with your love and keep me free from a critical and intolerant spirit that I may always seek to please you and to bring good to my neighbor as well."