Luke and the Lost

Do we sometimes get in the way of what God wants to do in and through us? Worse still, do we get in the way of what God wants to do in the lives of others because of our idea of what worship should be? Yikes. Fortunately, God is God and we are not. He will do what He wants, when He wants and in His way…in spite of us. Let us all be alert and ready to move or get out of the way when God acts with His power in our lives with love, mercy and grace with healing and restoration as only HE can do.

This is what I think about as I read this next passage, after years in previous pastoral ministry, watching many be saved and healed from many kinds of afflictions in many different ways with us having little to do with it. Our work was to provide the environment for God to work so people could be helped, healed and restored to Life. It’s an attitude and condition of the heart. Jesus knows our hearts.

Luke 13, The Message
Healing on the Sabbath

10-13 He was teaching in one of the meeting places on the Sabbath. There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn’t even look up. She had been afflicted with this for eighteen years. When Jesus saw her, he called her over. “Woman, you’re free!” He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God.

14 The meeting-place president, furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the congregation, “Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of the six if you want to be healed, but not on the seventh, the Sabbath.”

15-16 But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”

17 When he put it that way, his critics were left looking quite silly and red-faced. The congregation was delighted and cheered him on.

And “the congregation cheered him on”! Don’t you love that? Worship follows healing and restoration!

Matthew Henry comments, “Our Lord Jesus attended upon public worship on the sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ’s grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God.

Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity to him and to his gospel, and that he did but cloak it with a pretended zeal for the sabbath day; he really would not have them be healed any day; but if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often wrought on the Lord’s day; and whatever labor tends to put men in the way of receiving the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.”

Come, no matter what. Expect God to speak. Worship Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, The way You work amazes us every time we acknowledge Your mighty acts. Open our eyes to the subtle ways You work each day. May our days be filled with Your glory and praise for all You are and what You provide for us. Thank you! We love You because You first loved us. Thank you for restoration, healing when needed, and constant watch and care over our lives. May we always learn to get out of the way with our own “rules” when necessary. In Jesus Name, Amen