Just Because I Don’t Do It Your Way Doesn’t Make It Wrong
Luke 6:6-11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
6And it occurred on another Sabbath that when He went into the synagogue and taught, a man was present whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees kept watching Jesus to see whether He would [actually] heal on the Sabbath, in order that they might get [some ground for] accusation against Him. 8But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the midst. And he arose and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good [so that someone derives advantage from it] or to do evil, to save a life [and make a soul safe] or to destroy it? 10Then He glanced around at them all and said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one. 11But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you felt as if you could not be seen for who you really are because the person or people had too many personal unresolved issues to ever really be able to see you for who God created you to be and the truth or the nature of your relationship? I think probably all of us have. There are times in our lives no matter how much we are chasing God and attempting to serve Him and man, that we are still looked at as not doing enough, or not being who people may need us to be when they need us to be. But does that mean that just because we aren’t right in their eyes that we are wrong or that we have a responsibility to do what they want in the manner that they expected? Our Bishop made a point in Bible study that brought this issue home, He said that within the church, we will become disqualified because of our past and because of the way people think about us, and the things we have gone through or even not gone through. Many times if you have not had a horrible life and God has not delivered you from enough you are disqualified and other times if you have been through too much and been delivered from much and people remember you when those things disqualify us to speak into the lives of others, preach the gospel or be anything other than someone’s whipping post or flunky.
In this passage of scripture Jesus was focused on doing what His father had sent Him to do, but the Pharisees had their own image of serving God and being about the work of the Kingdom, that was tied to the law. The Pharisees attempted to take their image and their expectations to tri Jesus up and cause Him to fall and be seen as a hypocrite or someone that really did not serve. All too often we will be pigeon holed by individuals who discount our service, contribution, our friendships, loyalties and love because we don’t do things according to their plan. But that does not make our offering wrong it just makes it different than what others may want, expect or define as correct. It is important for us not to become distracted by people and their words, behaviors and attitudes and remain focused that the most important person that we must be in right standing with and have the approval of is God Himself. When we become individuals that are caught up in pleasing people we will often find ourselves missing God or not pleasing Him, in our efforts to be in the will and good graces of people. Don’t get me wrong we should be helpers one of another, we should live at peace with others as much as we can, but there is an element in many people that keeps them from ever being satisfied with people because they find it hard to see beyond their own needs, or definition of what is acceptable or right.
Follow me as I follow Christ, and Christ followed the will of the Father who had sent Him. Although thoroughly robed in flesh He was spirit led and had His priorities well in hand. He was not deterred by people’s definition or expectations, their need for Him to conform or operate according to their boundaries or statues. Christ knew His assignment and what He was told to do, and He did as He was lead, in order for Him to complete the mission God had given Him. Be a God chaser, and a God pleaser. Trying to please people will always lead us to falling short of people’s expectation and needs which will leave them thinking we are wrong, because we didn’t do it their way. Know who you are, whose you are and what is expected of you, and all else will come into proper order and perspective!
No comments:
Post a Comment