Good afternoon, everyone!
Today I read Matthew 11-12.
John is in prison, and begins to doubt, so Jesus sends his disciples to tell him of all they had witnessed: of the blind receiving sight, of the lame walking, and of the dead being raised.
Jesus declares that John is the special prophet who was sent to pave the way for Jesus' ministry.
Matthew 11:10 -This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'
After this, Jesus goes on to teach the people.
What He says is relevant to us today. And the invitation is still open.
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
After that, Jesus and His disciples were walking on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began to pick grain and eat it. The pharisees objected, and declared it a sin. "Not lawful."
Jesus reminds them of how David went into a temple when he was on the run from Saul and ate the holy bread.
Then Jesus reminds them:
Matthew 12:7 - But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
Those are powerful words. And the more I read them, the more they resound within me.
"I desire compassion, and not sacrifice."
What good is service if it is in name only? What good are good deeds if they are only to draw attention to ourselves, and not because we mean it?
What good is sacrificing to God - tithes, time, self - if we aren't compassionate to all people? Aren't we, after all, meant to be a light for Him to all people?
We are meant to be walking, talking, living, breathing examples of Christ's love. Examples of what He did for us.
And that's just given me a lot to think about.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Matthew 13-14.
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