"Lord Of The Sabbath"

Dear [Contact.First Name],

 

"For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day" Matthew 12:8 (KJV)

Now I want to challenge you to take the time to open your Bible and read the first 15 verses of Matthew chapter 12. In fact, after you've done so, you may want to come back and re-read today's devotional for a better understanding of what the Lord is trying to say to you today.

There's been a struggle for years between different Judeo-Christian faiths as to what day scripturally is the real Sabbath day. But, I'm not dealing with that today as much as having an understanding of what the Sabbath truly is. It's a time of worship and a time of putting aside all things that would distract you from focusing on the Lord of Glory which we in the Christian faith believe to be Jesus. To be honest, I'm not so sure He would want to be as much Lord "over" the Sabbath as He would want to be Lord "in" the Sabbath.

Jesus was tired of the Pomp & Circumstance of the Pharisees, and the constant arrogance of the Sadducees. What he was looking for is those worshippers who would worship Him in Spirit & in truth. (ref., John 4:23,24 (KJV)

We find that in verse 1-8 of Mathew 12, Jesus handily refutes their accusations and innuendos by saying, "...the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day". In fact, if we look at the two verse prior to that we find Jesus saying,

"But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless." Mat 12:6,7 (KJV)

So we see that Jesus was Lord even of the Sabbath.

Leaving the corn-field and going to the Synagogue, Jesus had knowledge of a Lame man with a withered hand there needing to be healed. Jesus says to him, "Stretch forth thine hand." and the Bible tells us: "And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." Matthew 12:13 (KJV)

We find here that Jesus was Lord even of the Synagogue - or Temple.

Just outside the Synagogue, verse 15 tells of a multitude of people who followed after Jesus needing to be healed, and he healed them all. THAT'S WHAT THE WORD SAYS!

So we can say here the Jesus was also Lord of the Streets.

What is troubling to me and probably to most of you is, why is He NOT Lord of my heart? I know that I say He is, and I want Him to be but I can't een seem to follow a diet. I always seem to be arguing with my spouse or my children and I have people at work and even at church that I literally can't stand... why isn't Jesus Lord of MY life?

The answer, is Disability. The kind that so binds you up that you can't pray, you can't sing... you might as well be dead. OUCH! Hard word for a Tuesday morning but how many have said it? How many have followed it up with, "I really don't mean it, but my life is just so miserable."?

Now ask me again why the Lord hasn't yet come in the Rapture. There are a lot of Rapture Seekers that KNOW they have a whole lot of cleaning up to do yet before He can come and get us because let me tell you - when the Bride puts on that Gown and she is all ready for the Wedding - and someone comes up and spills a whole glass of grape drink on it... the wedding is postponed a bit while the Bride gets "cleaned up" and gets rid of the stain. Double Ouch!

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and He is the Lord of the Synagogue and He is even the Lord of The Streets which to me says King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But, He isn't in love with the Sabbath - He WAS the Sabbath. He isn't in love with the Temples and the Synagogues as we see Him right here in the 6th verse say that He was even greater than the Temple.

JESUS came for the Disabled. He came for the satin stained bride... and He is saying to you and me today... "stretch forth thine hand"  and He is waiting to see what our response will be. 

You see, it's all about YOU! You are the one He loves and wants to restore from your disability no matter what it might be. Hear the words of the Lord today concerning your disability... whether it be alcohol, drug addiction, sexual addiction, anger, fear, Physical - whatever it might be... and "Stretch forth thine hand. and be restored" in Jesus' Name.