Luke – Wide Open Doors!
It is a proven, irritating fact of life that there will always be a “Yeah, but” person or persons in our lives. They seem to be relentless in putting down all that is good in order to sustain the self given power and authority they think they have. Guess what? It’s been going on for a long time.My dad used to call my little brother (much younger at the time) a “yeah, but” person. Why? Because everything we suggested whether it would be going on a trip, being on the trip, where to eat, what to eat, making any decision on an activity for the family OR having any meaningful conversation, my brother he would end the discussion with, “Yeah, but…” His “yeah, but” was always followed with the opposite 
of what the rest of us were thinking. Sometimes we would consider his opinion because as the spoiled youngest in the family he generally got his way. I learned to just go with it because what we were deciding wasn’t worth the battle. But, it was annoying.
of what the rest of us were thinking. Sometimes we would consider his opinion because as the spoiled youngest in the family he generally got his way. I learned to just go with it because what we were deciding wasn’t worth the battle. But, it was annoying.How much MORE so are the “yeah, but” people who criticized Jesus in every move He made and every word He said. Here is the Son of God come down, accused of being against God, accused of disobeying God’s law all while doing exactly what God told Jesus to say and do.
Jesus sees people with eyes of compassion and acts from that point of view and thinking. “Yeah, but…you ‘worked’ on the Sabbath!” is the irritating (to us) reply of the religious elite. The leaders are not seeing the larger picture.
Do we do that sometimes? “Yeah, but…”
Luke 13, New Living Translation
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
WHAT DO WE LEARN…
1. Religion is rule-keeping with a “yeah, but” attitude which leads to a critical spirit. It can happen to all of us.
2. We learn to look through the lens of Jesus who sees others with compassion, who is willing to help at all cost, who sees the vision of the mission with a passion to save and restore all that was once lost.
3. Jesus is the One and Only who can shame “yeah, but” people with the Truth. He loves His enemies. His goal is to seek and save all people. Let us not forget that.
4. Truth wins every time.
When we say yes to God, sometimes there will be “yeah, but” people in our lives who try to talk us out of doing what God invited us to be and do. There will be other “yeah, but” people who will try to hinder the work with criticisms for how you do the work. Take it all to the Lord (with a gain of salt) and ask for wisdom, clarity, insight and understanding. God will give it to us every time. Don’t let “yeah, but” people rule your lives.
God delights in the details of our lives. So give all the details over to Him and listen for his assignment. He will lead you to it and through it with all you need for the invitation to join Him in HIS work.
HOLY PAUSE…
And finally, pray for “yeah, but” people who are full of doubt, fears and misunderstanding. Avoid growing in frustration and just pray for them. Pray for their release of self control to the control of God and what He wants. Jesus advised us to pray for our enemies. He prayed for His enemies.
Jesus looked down from the cross at the scene and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” (Luke 23, NLT) Heart stopping, to think about, right?
Sometimes, WE can be “yeah, but” people. Stop and think. What is at the root of our complaining or cautious criticism? Take it to Jesus and see what He says. Ask for wisdom to see the details as He sees them. Ask for insight to see how the same outcomes can be achieved from a different perspective and be okay with that. Let us do nothing to hinder the cause and mission of helping people find and follow Jesus. Ask for God’s help to see the larger picture.
Instead of “yeah, but…” think this instead; “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,It is so good to be with You this morning and listen to Your words of Truth leap off the page and go straight to my heart. It is fitting to hear and to heed what Your Holy Spirit is saying to us for our own good. Your Word helps me to grow richer, deeper into the fertile soil of what it right and good for us. Your Holy Spirit helps us to bear the fruits of the character of You. Help me to see what you see. Help me to be and do what you created me to be and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 