Jesus is being watched now. Those who are watching him are hoping to trip him up by showing how incorrect his teaching is, and in doing so, discredit him. I think they don’t want to admit they have been wrong. They have been so caught up in their teaching, believing “the right way” that they have lost the ability to change.
This time they catch Jesus disciples picking grain and eating it while they were walking. They were not eating a meal, they were snacking. The religious teachers called the action “harvesting”. They were quick to point out that harvesting is forbidden on the Sabbath.
Jesus counters them with reminding them of the pillars of their faith, King David going and doing far worse by eating what belonged to the priest. How did that square with what the disciples were doing?
Jesus deftly points out the relationship between man and faith. Faith is to serve people, not people serving faith. As soon as it gets to that point, relationship has been lost. Serenity can turn quickly to slavery. And that is never what God intended for his creatures.
One thing I remember growing up is that we were taught to witness to others. We were made to feel guilty if we didn’t. As a result we stopped looking at people struggling with their problems, trying to find a way home. Instead what we saw were marks to help us alleviate our guilt. We stopped looking at them as human beings and looked at them more as a way to make God happy with us. We learned how to ask trick questions that would draw them in and if they didn’t accept Jesus as their “personal savior”, we went to find someone else, because time was slipping away.
God instituted faith to serve us, not for us to serve faith. As soon as we cross over into serving faith, we lose the perspective that we are valuable to God.
Prayer: Help me understand that life in You are freedom. Help me understand that doctrine can help define my relationship with You, but should never be used as a weapon against another.
No comments:
Post a Comment