“He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:9-12 ESV
Religious people will often judge something someone is doing all while having their own share of inconsistencies. In this case above they are judging Jesus for his future act of healing a man on the Sabbath, even though they the themselves would save an animal on the Sabbath. Interesting to note they had faith in his ability to heal. Jesus’ response reminds me of another teaching which speaks of one who notices the speck in their brother’s eye when they have a log in their own. These religious leaders were often quick to judge others, not knowing the log they had in their own eye.
The truth I’ve come to learn over the years is that the more religious I allow myself to become, the more inconsistencies I begin to recognize within myself. And dealing with all those inconsistencies is wearisome. That’s religion. Yes, I am to keep growing in righteousness, and this isn’t a call to loose goosy Christian living. But my primary focus shouldn’t be sanctifying myself with some false self-made religion, but to love the Lord and recognize his love for me. I must let him do the true sanctifying work only he can do, and be willing to follow and go through the process as I rest in him. And as he’s working on me, I ought to follow him and his leading – not my own self-help cleanup plan. As I walk this journey WITH him, I ought to keep loving people right where they are. We are all a mess and we all need Jesus. We all need his forgiveness daily. “Forgive us” was included in the model prayer he taught us to pray. And finally, we all need the work of the Holy Spirit living within us. Let us be confident that He will finish his work in us. (Philippians 1:6)
May we rest in him today and focus on how much he has and always will love us. And let’s love others, right where they are, with the love of Jesus.
