Jesus Heals and Accused by Pharisees

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Cup Prayer – This prayer will help you pour your heart out to God (Ps. 62:8). Begin with your hands folded together like an upside-down cup. Pour out before God all your fears, anxieties, guilt, sin and shame. Tell Him what troubles you. Take time to be specific. When you feel like you’ve poured out your heart, flip your hands over, folding them like an open cup, ready to receive from God. Sit in silence, asking God simply to fill you with His Spirit. If your mind runs back to sin, shame, anxiety or concerns of the day, flip your hands back over and pour it out to the Lord. When you are finished praying, read today’s Scripture and listen as God shares His heart back with you.

DAILY READING

Luke 5:12-39    

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Jesus Heals and Accused by Pharisees

by Diane Ward

The people longed to be near Him! Jesus’ miracles of healing spread throughout the region and the people laid down their work, their burdens and followed him. The Almighty did not act high and mighty, he had come to fulfill the law of love and mercy, to bear the burdens placed on the people, to show them the Way.

I have felt like a “pack animal” this week a yoke around my neck with work schedule demands, year-end tax filing and managing effects of weather fronts. At day’s end I rested in Jesus’ words. “Come unto me all that labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” (Luke 11:46)

The law was the very air the Pharisees breathed! Despite the transparency of Jesus’ goodness, the arrogance, jealousy and dangerous accusations that Jesus was the devil’s agent, a law breaker convicted him of crimes and offenses for which there was no grace under Pharisaic law. The penalty was death.

Singer/Songwriter Chuck Girard expressed this best in his song "Don't Shoot the Wounded." You can read the words here. The gist of this is, don't shoot the wounded, one day you may be one. 

There is truth in the saying “I see the Pharisee in me.” It is an honest statement for most of us, and a turnaround opportunity if we take it.

Jesus Heals / Is Questioned by Pharisees

PRAYER PRACTICE

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 5:12-39

REFLECTION

Friends Forever and Ever

by Judy Webb

 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20)

I had been reading through Luke 5:12-39 a number of times, waiting for something new to jump off the page and give me pause. Verse 20 did just that for me today. The word that flashed on and off is 'their'. I am trying not to read more into this than was intended, but after reviewing two other Gospels (Matthew 9:1-8 and Mark 2:1-12) I see the same word used, 'their'.

I know it is probable that I saw this word today because Jesus was trying to tell me something. But just as possible is that maybe Jesus is wanting to tell all of us something. During this season of life in the United States, many of us are at odds with each other over our political preferences. To be honest, I was struggling with this fact too. But then God opened my heart to hear his words.

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Isaiah 7:9)

I process difficult things by writing in my journal, and that is often where God takes me to task or teaches me the errors of my ways. A few days ago I was struggling because it was becoming clear to me that some of my dearest friends didn't agree with me, and saw things (politically) from a different perspective. As I questioned Him about this, I could just feel him pointing to a chair and telling me to sit down and listen.

I began to squirm as I sensed God was preparing to change my heart. I was afraid He was going to inform me that I was backing the wrong candidate and that my beliefs were incorrect and that I needed to change my thinking. Well, God was working to change my thinking, but not like I thought. He very clearly reminded me that these friends are Christian friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. In the grand scheme of things, politics don't provide salvation. 

Christian brothers and sisters don't have to agree on anything other than Jesus is Lord and Savior and there is no other. When it comes right down to it, that is all that matters. Our Christian friends help mold and shape us, they pray for us, they stand in the gap for us, and they sharpen us. When I read Luke 5:20 and realized it was 'their' faith that caused Jesus to heal their friend I saw my own friends in a new light. The faith of the friends of the paralyzed man got Jesus attention. This wasn't a political move, but a Kingdom one.

Question to Ponder: Can you see yourself in this friend reference? Do you feel that your friends must see everything as you do, or is faith in Jesus the only non-negotiable, the one true binding force.