1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 min)
2) Scripture Reading: John 5:15-23
15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
3) Devotional
In this passage there are several important lessons to be learned. I will focus on two of the lessons. The first lesson is about being judgmental. Jesus healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders judged and persecuted him for breaking the Sabbath rather than glorifying God for healing the man. What is more important, that the man was healed or that Jesus did “work” on the Sabbath? We must be very careful when we accuse people of sin and/or unrighteous behavior. Most times, we do not know the facts and the motives for why people do what they do and when they do it. The Jewish leaders chose to judge Jesus as a Sabbath breaker without knowing the entire story. They jumped to conclusions about the event, just like I do on many occasions.
The second lesson is that God is at work all around us at all times. When it comes to ministry work, we can do nothing without His assistance. God is sovereign over all things. If you do not feel Gods presence during worship, prayer and ministry, it does not mean that God is not there. In fact, He is there. We must become more intimate with God in order to see and feel Him as we attempt to walk closer with Him.
4) Questions to Consider
Are you quick to show someone grace or judgement? Are you sensitive to what God is doing around and through you? If not, what needs to change?
5) Prayer
Lord, You love us so much. Forgive me when I don’t recognize that you go with me wherever I go. Forgive me when I choose not to trust you and rely on my own will to do what I want to do. Finally, forgive me when I judge others rather than giving them the benefit of the doubt. Help me to walk as Jesus walked and become more like Him every day. And it is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things, Amen.
